Plateau State-born Nentawe Yilwatda clinches the chairmanship position of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in a dramatic National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting
By Udoka Ekeleme, Abuja
Professor Nentawe Yilwatda has emerged the new Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). His appointment took place in Abuja on Thursday, July 24, 2025 during the APC’s 14th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party. He took over from the outgone Chairman, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje who resigned in July due to health challenges.
During the NEC meeting, President Bola Tinubu seized the opportunity to take a swipe at the coalition-backed African Democratic Congress (ADC), which he described as a “coalition of confusion.”
Tinubu said it was not a bad idea to abandon a sinking ship, a reference to those who have defected from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC.
Tinubu said: “It’s not a bad idea to abandon a sinking ship and be absent from a coalition of confusion.”
The ADC has recently gained support from top opposition figures such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s Peter Obi.
The president’s taunt elicited immediate response from the opposition. Those who criticized him include the ADC, Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), and Mr. Paul Ibe, Media Adviser to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
President Tinubu, also charged APC governors at the meeting held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, to redouble their commitment to development, security, and grassroots mobilization, stressing the imperative of leaving behind a legacy of progressive governance.
He equally lamented the level of hardship in rural communities despite the quantum of money available to state governors and advised them to ‘wet the grass’.
The President, who announced plans to establish a befitting national secretariat for the APC in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), said: “We should leave a legacy of development. 23 governors are here to help identify land with the FCT Minister. We should form a committee of progressive governors to secure a suitable location for the new secretariat. I believe, without hesitation, the motion is carried.”
The President received a renewed vote of confidence from party leaders at the meeting, and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to economic reforms, stating that Nigeria’s financial trajectory is already beginning to stabilize.
According to him, “It’s not easy to navigate stormy economic waters. But now that the economy is stabilizing, there is no other direction for this country except upward. I can assure you of that,” he said.
“We must remain vigilant and continue expanding investment in security infrastructure and personnel. That is the only path to lasting peace.
“We are working hard to ensure food sovereignty. Those working with me will continue to push this agenda. We must engage all stakeholders to meet our national objectives.
“Nigerians are still complaining at the grassroots. You must wet the grass more. Lead the charge in delivering progressive change. We need more zonal-level engagements to boost mobilisation and unity,” he said.
He thanked the immediate past National Chairman of the APC, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje for his services, noting that he gave the former Kano governor an assignment to establish a progressive institute and he delivered.
“I gave him an assignment on the formation of a progressive institute, the National Secretary will work with the chairman to revitalize it and we can still take him (Ganduje) as a consultant to work with the new chairman to do that,” he said.
Earlier, Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum and Imo State governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, applauded President Tinubu’s transformative leadership and called for internal reforms to reposition the APC.
Uzodimma paid tribute to outgoing National Chairman, Dr Ganduje, for his service to the party and country, and called for a swift nomination of a unifying successor.
Uzodinma, therefore, moved a motion for NEC to return the office of APC National Chairman to the North Central Zone from the North-East; nominate and elect Prof. Yilwatda from Plateau State (North Central) as National Chairman; reassign Prof. AbdulKarim Kana, current National Legal Adviser from Nasarawa State (North-Central), as Deputy National Secretary; nominate Mr. Murtala from Katsina State (North West) as the new National Legal Adviser.
Uzodimma also moved that the tenure of ward and local government executives be extended till December 31, 2025, to ensure continuity amidst ongoing political activities.
His motion, seconded by Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, received wide support from the NEC.
In his response, Prof. Yilwatda, the party’s 2023 Plateau State governorship candidate, and current Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, said: “Let me express my profound gratitude to God and to the leadership of the party, from the President to the governors, National Assembly members and NEC, for entrusting me with this great responsibility.”
Describing his emergence as “humbling,” Yilwatda likened the APC to a vehicle, and party members as its mechanics, saying, “Together, we will fix it and drive it to our desired destination.”
He pledged to build an inclusive leadership anchored on cooperation, trust, and collective ownership of the party’s goals.
“I will work with everyone in the party, unite, build and expand the APC. You are the focus, the building blocks, and the support I need to move this vehicle forward,” he said.
