Garba Mohammed
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has appointed the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, Professor Yilwatda Nentawe, as the new National Chairman of the party.
The announcement was made on Thursday during the 14th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the APC, held at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja.
Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, who also leads the Progressive Governors’ Forum, moved the motion for Nentawe’s confirmation. The motion was seconded by House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, sealing Nentawe’s emergence as the party’s national leader.
The oath of office was administered at exactly 2:50 p.m., with top-ranking party figures—including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, serving governors, and national legislators—in attendance.
Nentawe, who hails from Plateau State in Nigeria’s North Central region, previously contested as the APC governorship candidate during the 2023 general elections. Though he did not win that race, his loyalty to the party earned him a federal cabinet position shortly afterward.
Party insiders have described his appointment as a calculated effort to reposition the APC ahead of the 2027 polls, especially as internal restructuring and political alliances begin to take shape.
Professor Nentawe, a former academic and public policy expert, is seen by many as a bridge between the technocratic and grassroots political wings of the APC. His elevation also signals a stronger presence for the North Central geopolitical zone in the national power structure of the party.
However, some observers have raised concerns about his time at the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, particularly over questions surrounding the transparency of social intervention programmes under his watch.
As the emergency NEC meeting continues, more announcements are expected, including key decisions on internal reforms, strategic appointments, and preparations for upcoming elections in various states.
Nentawe now faces the immediate challenge of uniting the party’s factions, rebuilding trust among aggrieved members, and restoring public confidence in the APC’s leadership. His ability to navigate these complex tasks will determine both his legacy and the ruling party’s stability heading into the next election cycle.