Jubilation in Plateau as Nentawe emerges APC national chairman

There was widespread jubilation across Plateau State on Thursday evening following the emergence of Nentawe Yilwatda as the new National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC). His emergence was formally announced at the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held in Abuja, bringing an air of celebration to his home state.

Nentawe, who until his new role, served as the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, takes over the leadership of the ruling party at a crucial time, ahead of major national and state-level elections. His emergence has been widely viewed as a strategic move by the party to consolidate support in the North-Central region, where he enjoys substantial grassroots backing.

Nentawe is no stranger to political engagement in Plateau State. In 2023, he contested the governorship seat on the platform of the APC but lost to the incumbent governor, Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Despite the defeat, he remained an influential figure in state and national politics, culminating in his appointment as a federal minister shortly after the elections.

Read also: Who is Nentawe Yilwatda? The humanitarian minister elected APC national chairman

Reacting to the news, party supporters, youth groups, and political stakeholders in Plateau took to the streets in celebration. In Jos and other major towns, processions and solidarity rallies were held in support of the new APC national chairman, with many describing the development as a “win for Plateau and the North-Central.”

One of the party supporters expressed confidence in Nentawe’s leadership, saying, “His emergence is not only a reward for loyalty and resilience, but also a clear message that the APC is ready to reposition itself for the future. Nentawe is a unifier and a bridge between the grassroots and the elite”.

At the national level, Nentawe’s emergence is expected to bring renewed energy into the party’s administration. Political analysts say his humanitarian background and campaign experience could prove vital in mobilizing support and addressing internal party divisions ahead of upcoming political contests.

With his new position, Nentawe becomes the first Plateau indigene to occupy the position of APC national chairman, a development many say places the state firmly on the national political map. As celebrations continue in Plateau, expectations remain high for his tenure at the helm of the ruling party.