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.
..Likely Successor of Mahmood Yakubu
Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) has alleged emerged as the likely candidate to succeed Prof. Mahmood Yakubu as the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
SaharaReporters exclusively reported that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had directed Yakubu to proceed on leave ahead of the expiration of his tenure.
Insider sources described the move as a response to what they termed Yakubu’s “last-minute betrayal” of the All Progressives Congress (APC) government that appointed him.
Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma reportedly met with President Tinubu shortly after the president returned from a 12-day working vacation, alleging that Yakubu’s efforts to register new political parties toward the end of his tenure had disrupted Tinubu’s preparations for a second term.
Sources told SaharaReporters that the governor also claimed that Yakubu was covertly supporting a candidate in the Imo State governorship election.
Following this briefing, Tinubu reportedly requested that Yakubu suspend all official duties and proceed on terminal leave.
The directive caused disruptions at INEC, leading to the abrupt cancellation of Yakubu’s final quarterly consultative meeting with political parties, as well as a planned session with civil society organisations.
The president is expected to submit the name of a new INEC chairman to the National Assembly in the coming days, with sources identifying Prof. Amupitan as the likely nominee.
Yakubu’s current five-year term is set to expire in the first week of December 2025, marking the conclusion of his 10-year service.
He was first appointed INEC Chairman on October 21, 2015, by then-President Muhammadu Buhari, succeeding acting chairperson Amina Zakari. Following Senate confirmation on October 29, 2015, he was sworn in on November 9, 2015.
After completing his first term in November 2020, Yakubu was nominated for a second and final term by President Buhari, confirmed by the Senate, and sworn in on December 1, 2020.
“Tinubu is shopping for Prof. Yakubu’s replacement, and Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan is likely to be the next INEC Chairman,” a top government source told SaharaReporters.
Amupitan’s Profile
Amupitan is a legal scholar and administrator with over 34 years of academic and professional experience. A native of Ijumu Local Government Area in Kogi State, he is married to Dr. (Mrs.) Yemisi Amupitan, and together they are blessed with four children.
Amupitan began his academic journey at the University of Jos in 1989 as an Assistant Lecturer. He steadily rose through the academic ranks, becoming a Reader in 2003 and a Professor of Law in 2008.
Over the years, he has held several key administrative positions, including Head of Department of Public Law, Dean of the Faculty of Law, Chairman of the Committee of Deans and Directors, and a member of the University’s Governing Council.
He has also served on the Governing Councils of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies and the Council of Legal Education. Today, he serves as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos.
In December 2023, Professor Amupitan was inaugurated as the second Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU), thereby affording him affiliation with the school.
According to records online, he obtained his Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Jos in 1987 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988 after completing the Barrister at Law program at the Nigerian Law School, Lagos.
He went on to earn a Master of Law degree in 1993 and a Ph.D. in Law in 2007, both from the University of Jos. In recognition of his achievements in the legal profession, he was conferred with the prestigious title of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 2014.
His areas of specialisation include the Law of Evidence, Corporate Governance, Corporate Law, and Privatisation Law.
Throughout his career, Amupitan has contributed to research, focusing on the legal frameworks for privatisation, reform of electoral laws, and reforms in petroleum and corporate governance laws.
He is an active member of several professional bodies, including the Nigerian Bar Association, the Nigerian Institute of Management, and the National Association of Law Teachers.
– Source: SaharaReporters
It is no longer a matter of speculation that former President Goodluck Jonathan is contemplating a bid for the presidency in the 2027 election, as evidenced by his numerous consultations with prominent political figures in Nigeria.
Jonathan seems to remain uncomfortable with the manner in which he lost the 2025 presidential election to the late Muhammadu Buhari, who notably became the first opposition candidate in Nigeria’s history to successfully unseat a sitting president. …Click the link to continue reading.
Several months ago, high-ranking stakeholders from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) reportedly traveled to The Gambia to engage with Jonathan and persuade him to accept the party’s nomination for the upcoming election.
Jonathan, who served as Nigeria’s president from 2010 to 2015, has recently positioned himself as a facilitator in both national and continental matters, particularly concerning conflict resolution and the enhancement of democratic practices throughout Africa and beyond.
Political expetrs assert that the recent decision by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the PDP to designate the 2027 presidential ticket for candidates from the Southern region was a strategic move intended to create favorable conditions for Jonathan’s candidacy.
During a speech in Benin City, at the 70th birthday celebration of his longtime ally and former Chief of Staff, Mike Aiyegbeni Oghiadomhe, Jonathan expressed sentiments of betrayal by individuals he had previously placed his trust in during his re-election campaign.
Most recently, a significant meeting took place in Abuja between former President Jonathan and Senator David Mark, the National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
However, Jonathan’s aspiration to secure a nomination from the coalition party may face challenges, as Senator Mark clearly indicated that the only pathway to attaining the party’s nomination would require Jonathan to formally join the ADC and actively participate in a transparent presidential primary process.
On September 12, 2025, Jonathan extended his consultations to Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate from the Labour Party (LP), engaging in discussions in Abuja concerning potential strategies for forming a unified opposition front in anticipation of the 2027 presidential election.
In recent months, the prospect of Jonathan and Obi as potential challengers to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has garnered considerable attention.
Following various reports regarding his prospective return to Aso Villa in 2027, Jonathan privately visited notable former military leaders, Generals Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar, in Minna, Niger State, on September 15, 2022.
During separate meetings with the two leaders, Jonathan characterized his visits as routine engagements with esteemed elder statesmen, emphasizing, “The visit is simply a regular occurrence, particularly as I am the youngest of all former leaders. It also provided an opportunity to check in on General Abdulsalami Abubakar, who has recently returned from medical treatment, and to visit General Babangida.”
Moreover, former Minister of Information and Orientation, Professor Jerry Gana, has publicly stated that Jonathan will indeed contest in the 2027 presidential election, positioning him as the flagbearer for the PDP.
Former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido has further expressed his belief that Jonathan represents the PDP’s strongest candidate for the 2027 presidential election, urging concerted efforts from the party to facilitate his return as a viable contender.
As the sitting president and a significant political figure, it is improbable that Goodluck Jonathan, despite extensive consultations, would be able to defeat Bola Tinubu. In the 2023 elections, regardless of the challenges he faced with his political party, he emerged victorious and continues to serve as president, commanding respect from both his supporters and opponents alike.
2027 Election: Be Careful To Contest Under The Party – Primate Ayodele Sends Warning To Jonathan
Former Kwara governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and ex-lawmaker Abubakar Amuda Kannike have officially joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and are now key leaders in the party ADC chieftain
Abdulsalam Abdulrasaq confirmed the high-profile defections, describing the party as a credible alternative to both APC and PDP in Kwara State
Several other prominent politicians, including former Minister Bolaji Abdullahi, are also strengthening ADC grassroots structures ahead of future political contests
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Kwara state has confirmed that former governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and ex-federal lawmaker, Honourable Abubakar Amuda Kannike, have officially joined the party and are now playing significant leadership roles.
This was disclosed by a party chieftain, Alhaji Abdulsalam Abdulrasaq, during a Yoruba-language interview monitored by Legit.ng.
Abdulfatah Ahmed served as governor of Kwara state from 2011 to 2019, while Abubakar Amuda Kannike represented the Ilorin East/Ilorin South constituency in the House of Representatives between 2015 and 2019.
According to the ADC chieftain, the former governor and other top political figures in the state have now repositioned themselves within the ADC, which he described as a “credible alternative” to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He explained: “Many of the politicians who resigned from the PDP in Kwara have already joined us. They are now our members. Some people think that because certain politicians have not made public declarations, they are hiding. That is not true. Former Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed is with us. He is in Ilorin now, actively engaged in ADC activities.”
The ADC leader added that several other prominent politicians, including former Minister Bolaji Abdullahi, are also involved with the party, even if their schedules sometimes take them outside the state.
He continued: “Recently, Hon. Amuda Kannike, the former House of Representatives member, was around for his daughter’s wedding, and he is fully with us. Danladi from Offa is also back home. Zakari Mohammed is around too. Oba Aluko is here as well. All these leaders have returned to the grassroots to strengthen ADC. Our focus remains on the grassroots, because that is where real politics begins.”
Abdulrasaq also disclosed that his defection from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the ADC brought with it all the party’s structures in the state. “As a former chieftain of NNPP, I moved with all the 193 ward chairmen and the 16 local government chairmen of NNPP into ADC. They are all now members of ADC,” he said.
He stressed that former Governor Ahmed and Hon. Kannike are not just members but leaders actively giving directives to the ADC in Kwara.
“The former governor is among our leaders and one of those giving us direction in the party. He is fully committed to the progress of Kwara State and Nigeria as a whole. This is the reason he joined ADC,” Abdulrasaq said.
He further emphasised what makes the ADC different from other political parties. “What sets ADC apart from APC and PDP is our guiding principle.
We have vowed before God not to treat the people the way other politicians have treated them. We will not manipulate the people or exploit them. That is our commitment.”
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