President Bola Tinubu has reportedly appointed the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, as the new National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

This appointment brings an end to weeks of speculation over who would succeed Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the immediate past chairman who stepped down from the position citing health reasons.

A member of the APC’s National Working Committee (NWC), who spoke to Daily Sun on condition of anonymity, confirmed Yilwatda’s appointment.

According to the source, the decision reflects the party leadership’s desire to entrust the position to a technocrat with democratic values rather than a career politician.

Yilwatda’s emergence precedes the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled for today. His selection reportedly followed a high-level meeting held on Wednesday night at the Presidential Villa, Aso Rock, involving President Tinubu, members of the APC Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), and other key stakeholders.

Party insiders say the choice of Yilwatda, a Christian from Plateau State, is also aimed at addressing religious imbalances within the party’s leadership structure. Describing the move as “strategic,” the source noted that the party sought to reflect greater inclusivity at the top level.

Yilwatda, who was appointed Minister in 2024, was the APC’s governorship candidate in Plateau State during the 2023 general elections. Born on August 8, 1968, in Dungung, Kanke Local Government Area, he is the son of the late Reverend and Mrs. Toma Yilwatda.

A seasoned technocrat, Yilwatda served as Resident Electoral Commissioner for Benue State under the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in 2017.

He is a registered engineer and member of several professional bodies including the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), the Nigeria Society of Engineers, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and the Solar Society of Nigeria.

His appointment is seen as a calculated move to blend administrative expertise with political reform within the ruling party.