Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda has emerged as the new National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), following the resignation of Abdullahi Ganduje, who cited health-related concerns.
Yilwatda’s emergence marks a shift in the party’s leadership, ushering in a technocrat with deep political ties in Plateau State and beyond.
Before his ascension to the party’s top job, Yilwatda had served as the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
His swift rise within the party hierarchy reflects his growing influence and loyalty to APC leadership structures, especially in the North-Central region.
A former APC governorship candidate in Plateau State, Yilwatda is no stranger to the corridors of power. He contested the 2023 governorship election under the APC banner but lost to the PDP. Despite challenging the outcome in court, he later respected the Supreme Court ruling, which affirmed the PDP’s victory.
Born on August 8, 1968, in Dungung, Kanke Local Government Area of Plateau State, Yilwatda is the son of the late Rev. and Mrs. Toma Yilwatda. His early academic pursuit saw him graduate with a degree in Electrical/Electronic Engineering from the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi in 1992.
He later advanced academically, earning a Master’s degree from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University and a PhD in Digital Systems Engineering from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. His scholarly background is complemented by international training in e-governance at the United Nations University, Macau.
Yilwatda’s entry into active politics was largely facilitated through his alliance with former Plateau Governor, Simon Lalong. Their political partnership saw him coordinating the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign in Plateau during the 2023 elections—a role that increased his visibility within the party.
Following Lalong’s move to the Senate, many expected Yilwatda to secure a federal appointment. That expectation materialized when he was nominated as Minister, and now, elevated to the APC’s topmost office—a clear sign of trust from the party’s power bloc.
Yilwatda’s technocratic credentials and political experience are seen as crucial for repositioning the party as it prepares for future electoral battles. His supporters argue that his blend of engineering acumen and administrative experience will bring a strategic edge to APC’s national operations.
Analysts also believe that his emergence may help stabilize the party’s internal machinery, especially with Ganduje’s exit leaving a vacuum at a time when APC is grappling with internal dissent.
With this appointment, Yilwatda becomes one of the few leaders in Nigeria to have transitioned from academia to executive governance and now, political party leadership—signaling a broadening of the APC’s talent pool as it charts a new course.
