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7 Things To Know About New APC National Chairmab, Nentawe Yilwatda
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has emerged today as the national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
It was reported earlier that Nentawe was the leading choice for the position.
At the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting today, credible insiders revealed that Nentawe has been confirmed as the APC national chairman.
Here are seven things to know about the newly appointed APC national chairman:
1. Yilwatda became a minister after his political mentor and former Plateau governor, Senator Simon Lalong, resigned from the cabinet to return to the Senate following the Court of Appeal’s sacking of the PDP lawmaker earlier declared winner for Plateau South Senatorial District.
2. Before his ministerial appointment, Yilwatda was the APC governorship candidate in Plateau in the 2023 elections, losing to Governor Caleb Mutfwang of the PDP. A loyalist of Lalong, he defeated the former governor’s deputy, Sonni Gwanle Tyoden, and three others to clinch the APC ticket.
3. He also served as the state coordinator of the Tinubu/Shettima Campaign Organisation during the 2023 elections.
4. Between July 2017 and December 2021, Yilwatda was the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Benue State—a role he resigned from to contest the APC governorship primary in 2022. Prior to that, he was ICT director at the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, for 12 years.
5. Born on 8 August 1968 in Dungung, Kanke Local Government Area of Plateau State, Yilwatda hails from a family of religious persons—the late Rev and Mrs Toma Yilwatda. He earned a degree in Electrical/Electronic Engineering in 1992 from the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi.
6. He later obtained a master’s degree from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, and a PhD in Digital Systems Engineering from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
7. He is also a community development expert and lecturer at the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, with over 29 years’ experience as a consultant for international development partners, and both the public and private sectors.
The trial of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, was on Monday stalled after two co-defendants failed to appear before a Federal High Court in Kaduna.
El-Rufai, who is standing trial on charges of alleged abuse of office, fraud, and financial misconduct filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), was present in court for the proceedings.
The former governor arrived at the court alongside officials of the ICPC, operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), and police personnel.
However, the court could not proceed with the case due to the absence of the two co-defendants, leading to an adjournment.
The matter was subsequently adjourned to June 28, 2026, for continuation of the hearing.
El-Rufai has consistently denied all allegations against him, while prosecutors allege that public funds were improperly released for projects that were either not executed or were irregularly handled during his tenure as governor.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord Party (AP), and three other political parties.
Justice Peter Lifu, who delivered the judgment, also directed that the order apply to the Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
The ruling stemmed from a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026, filed by the National Forum of Former Legislators.
In the suit, the plaintiffs asked the court to determine whether INEC has a constitutional obligation to deregister political parties that fail to meet the performance thresholds set out in Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Electoral Act 2022, and INEC regulations.
According to the former legislators, the five political parties had consistently failed to meet the required constitutional benchmarks. These include winning at least 25 percent of votes in a state during a presidential election or securing at least one elective seat at the national, state, or local government level.
They further told the court that the ADC and the four other parties performed poorly in the 2023 general elections and subsequent by-elections, failing to secure seats across key tiers of government. The plaintiffs argued that the continued recognition of the parties is unlawful and undermines the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral system.
On that basis, they urged the court to declare that INEC is duty-bound to deregister such parties and compel the commission to do so before preparations for the 2027 elections progress further. They also sought, and obtained, an order restraining the affected parties from participating in elections or engaging in political activities such as campaigns, rallies, and primaries.
Additionally, the suit sought an injunction barring INEC from recognizing or dealing with the parties in any official capacity.
The Borno State Government has declared Tuesday a public holiday to commorate the first day of the Islamic Calender Year, 1448 after Hijira.
The year 1448 AH (Anno Hegirae) is the current year in the Islamic calendar.
Since the Hijri calendar is based on lunar cycles, it is approximately 11 to 12 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar.
As a result, the year 1448 AH overlaps parts of both the 2026 and 2027 Gregorian calendar years.
In a statement released on Sunday, the state Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Usman Tar urged residents to use the period to rededicate themselves to peaceful co-existance and service to humanity and development.
The statement reads “This is to inform the general public that His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, CON, mni, FNSE, has declared Tuesday 1st Day of Muharram 1448 After Hijira (AH), which is equivalent to Tuesday 16th June 2026 as a Public Holiday to commerate the first day of the Islamic Calender Year 1448 (AH).
“All citizens are therefore enjoined to be faithful and reflect on this important date and rededicate themselves to peaceful co-existance and service to humanity and development of our dear state in particular” he stated.
Tar also enjoined citizens to embrace the virtues of unity, solidarity, togetherness, tolerance, justice, mercy and multiculturalism that are essential to ensuring unity in diversity and unity of mankind.
“The Government and good people of Borno are committed to the unity, prosperity and existence of Nigeria, and to projecting Nigeria’s good image among the comity of nations in a globalised universe” he noted.
The commissioner said Governor Zulum enjoined the people of the state to pray for a peaceful, plural democratic entity, calling on all communities and faith groups to live in harmony and togetherness.
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