Politics
Nentawe Yilwatda: List of 9 APC National Chairmen From 2013 to 2025
The history of the All Progressives Congress (APC) dates back to 2013, following a merger between at least three opposition parties
In 2023, the merger paid off, and the APC ended the 16-year dominance of the PDP, but this would not have been possible without the party’s leadership
As Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda takes over as APC national chairman, Legit.ng highlights all the party’s national chairmen from 2013 to 2025
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has been a significant powerhouse in the Nigerian political scene since its establishment in 2013.
APC was born out of a merger between three major opposition parties in Nigeria: the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).
As a prominent political party, the leadership of the APC has seen several changes over the years, with Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda being the new sheriff in town
Bisi Akande (2013 – 2014)
The elder statesman and former governor of Osun state held the position of the national chairman of the APC briefly on an interim basis when the party was first formed.
He played a pivotal role in uniting various opposition parties to form a cohesive platform to challenge the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the ruling party at the time.
Akande’s leadership set the foundation for the APC’s future success, and he is still a party member.
2. John Oyegun (2014 – 2018)
John Oyegun is the party’s longest-serving chairman since its formation in 2013.
Following the APC’s official registration as a political party in 2014, Oyegun became the first substantive national chairman.
Under his leadership, the party made significant gains, winning the 2015 general elections and forming the government at the federal level.
Oyegun’s tenure saw the APC’s expansion and consolidation of its position in Nigerian politics.
Today, Oyegun is part of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition and has even gotten his membership card in his state of origin, Edo.
3. Adams Oshiomhole (2018 – 2020)
Oshiomhole, a former labour leader and Edo governor, took over the reins of the APC in 2018.
During his tenure, the party faced both successes and challenges. Oshiomhole’s strong-willed approach contributed to the APC’s victory in several state-level elections, but internal disputes and factionalism also emerged within the party.
This development led to his ouster as the chairman of the party.
4. Mai Mala Buni (2020-2022)
Mai Mala Buni was famously known for his caretaker role as the party leader following the controversies that led to the ouster of Oshiomhole, BBC reported.
Following the dissolution of the national working committee (NWC), Buni became the acting chairman and later became the substantive chairman after the party’s convention.
When he held the position, he was serving as the executive governor of Yobe state. His leadership has been marked by efforts to unite the party and enhance its electoral prospects. 5. Senator Abdullahi Adamu (2022 – 2023)
5. Senator Abdullahi Adamu (2022 – 2023)
Arguably, the most controversial of them all, Senator Abdullahi Adamu’s emergence as national chairman was laced with wranglings and reservations following his long-term affiliations with the PDP.
The Nasarawa-born politician once shared that he did not support President Bola Tinubu at the APC presidential primaries.
On Monday, July 17, 2023, reports surfaced that he had tendered his resignation letter from being the national chairman of the APC.
In December of that year, he quit politics.
6. Abubakar Kyari (July 2023 to August 2023)
After Senator Adamu’s resignation, the deputy national chairman (North) of the APC, Senator Abubakar Kyari, emerged as the party’s national chairman.
Channels TV reported that Kyari’s emergence as interim APC chairman was announced at a press briefing in Abuja on Monday, July 17, 2023. Kyari, who represented Borno North senatorial district in the 9th national assembly, presided over the APC NWC meeting that day.
7. Abdullahi Ganduje (August 2023 to June 2025)
Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the present board chairman Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), served as the governor of Kano state from 2015 to 2023. He previously served as Rabiu Kwank
waso’s deputy governor twice, from 1999 to 2003 and from 2011 to 2015. He is a member and former national chairman of the ruling APC from August 2023 to June 2025.
8. Ali Bukar Dalori (June to July 2025)
A deputy national chairman (North) of the APC, Ali Bukar Dalori, replaced Ganduje as the national chairman of the Nigerian ruling party Ganduje’s resignation, which took effect on Friday, June 27, 2025, was confirmed by senior party officials in Abuja as his official letter cited health reasons.
9. Nentawe Yilwatda: APC chairman (July 2025)
On Thursday, July 24, 2025, Yilwatda emerged as the new national chairman of the APC, permanently replacing Ganduje, who stepped down. Yilwatda is a technocrat and politician with roots in engineering, governance, and party politics.
Until his appointment as APC national chairman, he was Nigeria’s humanitarian affairs minister.
The governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress in Kaduna State, Isa Ashiru, on Tuesday announced a former three-term member of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Irmiya Kantiok, as his running mate for the 2027 governorship election.
Ashiru, in a statement announcing the decision on Wednesday, described Kantiok as a seasoned legal practitioner and experienced legislator whose wealth of experience would strengthen the party’s quest to provide purposeful leadership for Kaduna State.
Kantiok represented Zonkwa Constituency in the Kaduna State House of Assembly for three consecutive terms.
Announcing his choice, Ashiru said, “Today, I proudly announce Barrister Irmiya Ishaku Kantiok as my running mate for the 2027 gubernatorial race under our great party, the African Democratic Congress .”
He described Kantiok as a leader whose professional and political credentials align with the aspirations of the party and the people of Kaduna State.
“A battle-tested legal titan and former Kaduna State House of Assembly member for three terms representing Zonkwa Constituency, Barrister Ishaku Kantiok embodies the intellect, integrity and resilience Kaduna State deserves at this time of its development,” Ashiru said.
The ADC candidate noted that Kantiok’s accomplishments in the legal profession and legislature reflected his dedication to justice, accountability and inclusive governance.
“His courtroom victories and legislative service reflect an unyielding commitment to justice, good governance and equitable development, as well as fighting for the people even amid electoral storms that tested true character,” he added.
Ashiru said their joint ticket would focus on uniting the state, strengthening institutions and accelerating development across all three senatorial districts.
“Together, we will forge a united Kaduna State where the rule of law reigns, youths thrive, infrastructure expands, and every zone rises. This is a ticket of experience, competence and vision for a greater and more prosperous Kaduna State,” he said.
He called on residents of the state and supporters of the ADC to rally behind the party ahead of the 2027 governorship election, expressing confidence that the party’s agenda would deliver inclusive governance, sustainable development and renewed hope for the people of Kaduna State.
The vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has expressed confidence that the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, will keep his promise to spend only one term in office if elected President in 2027.
Kwankwaso spoke during an interview on News Central’s 60 Minutes with Mr Kay, where he was asked about Obi’s commitment to a single four-year tenure and the political arrangement within the NDC coalition.
The former Kano State governor said he had no reason to doubt Obi, noting that the former Anambra State governor had made the commitment publicly.
“I personally believe Peter Obi is a gentleman and I have every reason to trust him, especially that he said it to the hearing of everybody. Nobody should have any reason to doubt him,” Kwankwaso said.
Kwankwaso explained that the coalition’s power-sharing understanding was founded on mutual trust among its members and an agreement on how political power should be rotated.
He argued that the arrangement would allow the southern part of the country to complete what the coalition considers an eight-year presidential cycle before power shifts.
“We believe the southern part of the country should complete its second term and, with that, and to the hearing of everybody in this country, I don’t believe any gentleman would want to renege, would want to say no or change his or her mind,” he stated.
Kwankwaso maintained that Obi’s one-term commitment was not merely a personal declaration but formed part of the broader understanding among members of the political alliance.
The NDC vice-presidential candidate also said the coalition had gone beyond discussions about individuals and political blocs by developing a common governance programme.
According to him, the alliance has drawn up short-, medium- and long-term plans that would guide the administration if the party wins the 2027 presidential election.
“More importantly, we have collectively gotten a short-term, medium-term and, of course, long-term plan for this country. It does not matter whether it is him from the Obidient side, or my humble self from the Kwankwasiyya side or another side, we believe we have an agenda,” he said.
He added that the coalition’s priority was to ensure that subsequent leaders remained committed to the agreed programme irrespective of their political background or support base.
“That agenda, we will as much as possible ensure that whoever comes, maybe Peter, maybe me or any other person, would stick to that programme,” he added.
Kwankwaso stressed that continuity of the coalition’s policies would remain important beyond the tenure of any individual President, insisting that the NDC’s objective was to build a governance framework capable of surviving changes in leadership.
The immediate past Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has dismissed reports that he is planning to defect from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Allied People’s Movement (APM) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Naija News reports that Adelabu made the clarification in a statement issued on Friday in Ibadan, Oyo State, by his media aide, Femi Awogboro.
The statement followed reports alleging that Adelabu’s personal assistant, Ajiboye Akande, had held talks with members of the APM as part of moves to facilitate the former minister’s defection.
Reacting to the speculation, Adelabu described the claim as false and unfounded, insisting that neither he nor his aide was involved in any plan to leave the ruling party.
“He remains a committed member of the APC and continues to hold the President and National Leader of the party, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in the highest regard as his political mentor,” the statement said.
The former minister also reaffirmed his confidence in the APC leadership and pledged to abide by legitimate decisions taken by the party.
It added, “Chief Adelabu believes in the party, respects its leadership, and remains committed to the democratic process. Given his well-known decency and integrity in politics, he is always prepared to respect the legitimate decisions of the party’s national leadership.”
Adelabu urged members of the public and his supporters to disregard the defection reports, describing them as an attempt to create unnecessary political confusion.
-Source: Politics Nigeria
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