Nentawe Yilwatda, the newly appointed Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has vowed to make decisive decisions to strengthen and expand the ruling party.
In an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Yilwatda assured party members and supporters of his commitment to collaborative and calm leadership.
Yilwatda emphasized his goal of fostering unity within the APC and driving its expansion by attracting governors from opposition parties. “The confidence they have in me is to make sure I take tough decisions but with gentility and teamwork for the collective interest of the party,” he stated. The APC currently controls 23 states, following the defection of two governors, Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom and Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2025.
“We have 23 governors and we are still counting,” Yilwatda said. “My job is to bring in more. We would do legwork and bring in more.”
Yilwatda revealed plans to consult with his predecessors, including Abdullahi Ganduje, Adams Oshiomhole, Abdullahi Adamu, and Mai Mala Buni, to leverage their experiences and guide his leadership. This approach aims to ensure the smooth implementation of the party’s manifesto.
Highlighting his diverse background, Yilwatda mentioned his experience in academia, engineering, electoral management, and humanitarian service. As a registered engineer and former university lecturer, he served as Resident Electoral Commissioner with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and was appointed Minister of Humanitarian Affairs by President Tinubu in October 2024.
“I’m a politician coming in with private sector experience, university experience, administrative experience, election processes experience, and now with the political experience to gear the wheel of the party,” Yilwatda stated.
Comparing his leadership style to that of President Bola Tinubu, Yilwatda stressed that calmness and soft-spoken traits would not hinder tough policy execution. “Look at the body language of Mr. President; soft-talking, calm, gentle, but look at where he is driving the country, taking tough decisions, where people fear to even discuss,” he said.
As the new APC Chairman, Yilwatda’s leadership promises to bring a fresh perspective to the party, with a focus on unity, expansion, and decisive decision-making.
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