By Ghazali Ibrahim
Nigerian minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda is reported to have gotten the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to succeed Abdullahi Umar Ganduje as the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), BlackBox Nigeria has learnt.
Professor Yilwatda, who previously served as a Resident Electoral Commissioner in Benue State and was the APC’s gubernatorial candidate in Plateau State’s 2023 elections, emerged as a consensus pick after a closed-door meeting between President Tinubu and APC governors held at the Presidential Villa on Wednesday night.
Ganduje, who had led the party since August 2023, stepped down from the position on June 27, citing health issues compounded by internal party pressures and legal challenges.
His departure paved the way for Deputy National Chairman Ali Bukar Dalori to assume leadership in an acting capacity.
According to reports from the Kano Times and ICIR, Yilwatda’s potential nomination is set to be ratified during today’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, convened at the Presidential Villa instead of the party secretariat due to logistical arrangements.
With a background in engineering and academic administration, Yilwatda is viewed as a reform-oriented leader capable of modernising party operations.
His appointment is also seen as a nod to geographical equity within the North-Central zone, maintaining the party’s informal zoning tradition.
His close working relationship with Tinubu, particularly in overseeing humanitarian efforts, suggests strong executive backing.
Other contenders include former Nasarawa State Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura and Ali Bukar Dalori, who currently serves as Acting Chairman following Ganduje’s exit.
President Tinubu’s influence is expected to be decisive in breaking the stalemate and ensuring party unity ahead of the critical 2027 general elections.
The NEC meeting, originally scheduled for Avon House, has been relocated to the Presidential Villa, underlining the significance of the session.
As NEC delegates prepare to confirm Yilwatda’s appointment or potentially adopt a caretaker model under Ali Dalori, all eyes remain on President Tinubu’s final decision and its implications for APC cohesion and the party’s strategy moving forward.
