Yilwatda emerges front-runner for APC National Chairmanship ahead of crucial NEC meeting

Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda has emerged as a leading contender for the National Chairmanship of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), as the party prepares for a crucial National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled for 2 p.m. today at the Presidential Villa.

Since the resignation of Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje on June 27, the party has been without a substantive chairman, with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu keeping party leaders and stakeholders in suspense over his preferred candidate. In Nigeria’s political tradition, the sitting president, particularly from the ruling party, plays a dominant role in determining who leads the party, often steering consensus toward a favored choice.

Yilwatda, a former governorship candidate in Plateau State and university professor, was not initially seen as a contender. However, his name began to gain traction following a closed-door meeting on Wednesday night between President Tinubu and APC governors. Sources suggest that Yilwatda may have now secured presidential backing.

Despite this development, some within the party are still championing the candidacy of former Nasarawa State Governor, Senator Tanko Al-Makura. However, his bid faces resistance from certain quarters who argue that, in the wake of the Muslim-Muslim presidency, a Christian chairman like Yilwatda would bring much-needed religious balance to the party’s leadership.

Today’s NEC meeting is widely expected to end weeks of speculation and affirm a new leader for the APC, setting the tone for the party’s direction ahead of the 2027 general elections.