The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has elected Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda as its new national chairman.
The decision was made unanimously by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) during its meeting held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday.
Yilwatda, who currently serves as the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, replaces Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who stepped down last month citing “crucial private matters.”
Who is Prof. Yilwatda?
Born on August 8, 1968, in Dungung, Kanke LGA of Plateau State, Prof. Yilwatda is a seasoned academic and digital governance expert with over 26 years in academia.
A native of Plateau State, he is the son of the late Reverend Toma Yilwatda.
He attended Boys’ Secondary School Gindiri, obtained a BSc from the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, an MSc from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi, and a PhD in Electronic and Computer Engineering from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
At the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, he served as the pioneer Director of ICT, where he introduced groundbreaking digital reforms, earning awards like Best Staff of the Year and Best Director of the Year.
National service, electoral reforms, and public policy
Beyond academia, Yilwatda has worked as a consultant to the EU, World Bank, UNICEF, and TECHVILE USA, offering solutions in digital transformation for both the public and private sectors.
He also served as a Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) with INEC, where he championed reforms including voting rights frameworks for IDPs and persons with disabilities (PWDs), and strengthened technology use in Nigeria’s electoral process.
He stepped down in 2021 to join politics and contested the Plateau State governorship under APC, also coordinating the Tinubu/Shettima campaign in the state during the 2023 elections.
A minister, strategist, and digital governance advocate
Currently serving as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and a member of the Presidential Economic Management Team, Prof.
Yilwatda is also the Chairman of the Euro-African Dialogue on Migration and Development.
His appointment as APC national chairman is seen as a strategic move to blend technocratic leadership with grassroots mobilisation and to consolidate the party’s reform agenda ahead of future elections.
According to a statement by Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, party insiders describe Prof. Yilwatda as a “bridge between governance, technology, and development policy,” whose leadership is expected to inject fresh energy into the APC.
His strong academic credentials, public sector experience, and vast international exposure position him as a chairman capable of building consensus and advancing the party’s national interests.
