By Atoyebi Nike
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has named Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda as its new National Chairman, following the resignation of Abdullahi Ganduje, former Kano State governor, who stepped down citing health challenges.
Yilwatda, a former APC governorship candidate in Plateau State and key figure in the party’s 2023 presidential campaign, is known for his blend of technocratic expertise and political engagement.
Born on August 8, 1968, in Dungung, Kanke Local Government Area of Plateau State, Yilwatda holds a PhD in Digital Systems Engineering from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He earned his undergraduate degree in Electrical/Electronic Engineering from the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, and a Master’s in Engineering from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi.
He also received international training in e-governance from the United Nations University in Macau, China.
During the 2023 general elections, Yilwatda coordinated the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign in Plateau State and ran for governor under the APC banner. Though he lost to the PDP, he pursued legal redress up to the Supreme Court, ultimately accepting the court’s ruling.
He is closely aligned with former Plateau State governor and current senator, Simon Lalong, and was initially tipped for a federal ministerial role. He was nominated as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation before being announced as the party’s new chairman.
Yilwatda’s appointment signals a strategic shift within the APC as it looks to consolidate internal unity ahead of the 2027 elections.
