In a bold and progressive move, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has unveiled Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda as its new National Chairman — a decision that reflects both political foresight and generational transition. This is more than a leadership shuffle. It is the rebranding of a political structure, driven by intellect, character, and strategic recalibration ahead of 2027.

Born on August 8, 1968, in Dungung, Kanke Local Government Area, Plateau State, Nentawe was raised in a disciplined, faith-based home — the son of the late Rev. Toma Yilwatda, a revered Christian cleric. The moral upbringing that shaped his early life would eventually underpin his academic, public, and political journeys.

He holds a B.Eng. in Electrical/Electronic Engineering from the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi; a Master’s in Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, and a Ph.D. in Digital Systems Engineering from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. But it wasn’t just classroom brilliance that defined him. Nentawe’s hunger for knowledge took him further — he received high-level training from the United Nations University in Macau (China), AfriNIC in Mauritius, NetTel@Africa in Kenya, and multiple ICT leadership sessions sponsored by the MacArthur Foundation, UNESCO, and UNIDO. He is a registered engineer with COREN, and a member of the IEEE, Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), and the Solar Energy Society of Nigeria.

For over 25 years, Prof. Nentawe served the university system with distinction — rising from lecturer to Director of ICT at the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi. His reforms in digitizing records, e-learning, and systems governance made him the university’s “Most Outstanding Director” in 2012. He didn’t just teach technology — he built it.

But it was his appointment in 2017 as the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of Benue State by President Muhammadu Buhari that launched him into the national limelight. As REC, he supervised sensitive elections in Anambra (2017), Osun (2018), Benue and Kogi (2019) — earning a reputation for integrity and forward-thinking. He introduced digital mapping of polling units and designed frameworks that ensured Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) could vote — a legacy now embedded into INEC operations.

In 2022, after voluntarily resigning from INEC, Nentawe joined partisan politics and emerged as the APC gubernatorial candidate in Plateau State. He launched the “#GenerationNext” campaign — a youth-driven vision for development, technology, and security. His ideas were radical for Plateau: digital tax systems, smart policing, energy cooperatives, data-based budgeting, and rural youth empowerment schemes. Though he lost the 2023 governorship election after a prolonged legal battle, his message resonated across age, religious, and ethnic lines. The Supreme Court’s decision may have ended his gubernatorial pursuit, but it amplified his stature as a man of uncommon courage and democratic faith.

In October 2024, President Tinubu appointed him as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, following the suspension of Dr. Betta Edu. Within months, he began reengineering the ministry’s flawed structures with a digital-first approach. He famously told the Senate during his confirmation:

“We cannot continue managing humanitarian crises in Nigeria with sentiments. We must build the ministry on data, accountability, and dignity for every citizen in distress.”

His leadership earned him nationwide acclaim — and now, the ultimate call: to lead the APC.

So why Nentawe? Why now?

Unlike traditional party chairmen who rise through factional muscle and patronage, Prof. Nentawe arrives with no political baggage, no scandal, and no ethnic bias. He represents the future of party politics in Nigeria — intelligent, issue-driven, and people-focused.

This is where President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s political sagacity shines. In a season where trust in parties is declining and public apathy is growing, Tinubu has selected a chairman not just to manage party congresses or elections, but to rebuild the APC brand from the ground up. It’s a strategic masterstroke — investing in character, not noise.

What do APC members expect from their new chairman?

We expect more than order. We expect restoration.

We expect him to:

Unite the party, not by decree, but by active engagement at ward, local government, and state levels.

Reintroduce the culture of meetings — where members gather to plan, not just clap.

Digitize the party register — ensuring every member is known, counted, and connected.

Institutionalize membership dues — because a party must be funded by its people, not by desperate aspirants.

End the culture of self-funded candidacies — shifting toward a grassroots-funded model where the party carries its candidates.

Raise new leaders like himself — competent, untainted, and ready to govern.

Ensure internal democracy — where primaries are contests of merit, not auctions of money.

The challenge ahead is massive, but Nentawe is cut from rare cloth. His combination of intellect, humility, and resilience gives hope to thousands of young party members who want to see the APC reborn.

As a loyal party member and stakeholder, I say boldly: this is one of the best decisions the APC has made in years. I salute President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima for resisting pressure to reward cronies, and instead choosing capacity over calculation, and value over volume.

May God grant Professor Nentawe Yilwatda the wisdom of Solomon, the courage of Moses, and the vision of Joseph. May he succeed in making the APC not just a ruling party — but a renewing force.

The journey to 2027 has already begun. And with leaders like Nentawe at the helm, we walk with faith, not fear.

Prince Adeyemi Shonibare

APC Member

Advocate for Good Governance & Reform