Barring any last-minute changes, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, is set to be announced as the Acting National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), a move that signals a strategic recalibration of the party’s leadership under President Bola Tinubu’s influence.
The decision, expected to be finalised at the APC National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled for Thursday in Abuja, follows weeks of internal consultations and power realignments within the ruling party.
The announcement will come less than a month after the resignation of former chairman Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje on June 27, which had left the position in the hands of Deputy National Chairman (North), Ali Bukar Dalori, in an interim capacity.
Party sources told PUNCH that Yilwatda’s selection is a product of consensus-building among key party stakeholders who view him as a stabilising figure with the loyalty and credentials to navigate the APC through a turbulent phase. His North Central roots and unwavering allegiance to President Tinubu were instrumental in his emergence.
“Yilwatda has remained consistent and loyal to the President and the party. His name came up as a consensus candidate to take charge of the APC during this critical phase.
He is expected to steady the ship while broader consultations continue on who will emerge as substantive national chairman,” a senior APC official disclosed under anonymity.
Yilwatda, an academic and technocrat born on August 8, 1968, in Plateau State, previously served as the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Benue State between 2017 and 2021 and held a decade-long position as ICT Director at the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi.
His political journey gained national attention when he contested the Plateau State governorship under the APC in 2023. Though he lost the election, he accepted the Supreme Court’s verdict affirming the PDP’s victory.
A staunch supporter of the Tinubu-Shettima presidential ticket, Yilwatda coordinated their campaign efforts in Plateau State. His ministerial appointment was seen as a reward for his loyalty and ground-level political work during the election season.
Analysts believe his appointment is a tactical move by the Presidency to solidify control over the party, quash internal dissent, and position the APC for upcoming off-cycle elections and the 2027 political season.
While an official statement from the APC is still pending, all indications point to the NEC rubber-stamping the decision on Thursday.
Attempts to reach the party’s National Publicity Secretary for confirmation were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.
As the APC navigates leadership uncertainty and regional tensions, Yilwatda’s expected elevation could mark a turning point in efforts to maintain unity and project strength heading into future political battles.
