Former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Commissioner and current Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, has reportedly emerged as the leading contender to become the next National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), according to reports by The Sun newspaper.
Though an official announcement is yet to be made, sources revealed that Yilwatda’s emergence followed behind-the-scenes consultations involving President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and APC governors during a closed-door meeting held at the Presidential Villa on Wednesday night.
His likely emergence is expected to bring an end to weeks of speculation surrounding the leadership of the ruling party, following the resignation of the immediate past National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who stepped down citing health reasons.
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A member of the APC’s National Working Committee (NWC), who spoke anonymously, said the party is tilting toward a candidate with a “more democratic outlook” rather than a traditional political heavyweight. The source added that Yilwatda’s consideration was also influenced by the desire to ensure religious balance within the party’s leadership structure.
Yilwatda, who contested the 2023 Plateau State governorship election under the APC platform, currently serves as the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs. He previously served as INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Benue State following his appointment in 2017.
He hails from Dungung in Kanke Local Government Area of Plateau State and was born on August 8, 1968. An engineer by training, he is registered with the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) and is a member of several professional associations including the Nigerian Society of Engineers and the Solar Society of Nigeria.
If confirmed, Yilwatda’s elevation would mark a significant shift in the party’s leadership dynamics, combining technocratic experience with political exposure.
