By Felix Durumbah, Abuja
From Plateau State, the home state of new National Chairman of ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, came mixed reactions to his emergence today to the party’s top seat.
Yilwatda was unanimously endorsed by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) today as APC’s substantive National Chairman during the body’s meeting in Abuja, the Nigerian capital.
Until the endorsement, he was Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction.
It is worthy of note that Yilwatda, flying the APC flag, unsuccessfully ran against incumbent governor of the state, Caleb Mutfwang of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 governorship election and even upstaged the governor in the Appeal Court before the Supreme Court, on January 12, 2024, ruled in favour of the latter,ending the legal matter.
But, the State remains sharply polarized along party lines.
From the social media, People&Politics lifted reactions to Yilwatda’s accession to power. The newspaper is running the posts verbatim, unedited, spelling errors, warts and all.
On Facebook, a commenter, identified as Ferrari Jones, posting under a group, Plateau Voice (PV), gushed that Yilwatda’s accession to the APC’s numero uno position, opens the door for an automatic re-election for Gov. Mutfwang in 2027.
The post read: “Today is the End of Blue Cap dream on the plateau. Governor Mutfwang
4 + 4 is now 100% guaranteed.”
A short while later, the same Ferrari Jones made a mocking post that showed that Yilwatda’s new position will only end up making enemies for him, saying that President Bola Tinubu should have rather picked him as Vice-Presidential candidate for the 2027 elections.
The post read: “If Tinubu Truly fancy Hon. Nentawe, let him make him Running mate in 2027, not party chairman that will make him start having problems with people’s interest.”
However, Jones was challenged by another commenter, identified as Comrade Dilli Jan, who queried “which people interest”, even as another commenter, Jeremiah Dungbammun Gonkhir, warned Jones to “go and learn more.”
A commenter, Patience Dickson, expressed pessimism over Yilwatda’s capacity to deliver the goods.
Dickson posted:”Today where is Abdullahi Adamu, where is Ganduje? The pressure on National chairmanship is too much for a workaholic minister to handle. He don’t have the capacity to deliver.”
But, an obvious fan of the new National Chairman, identified as Sir Dominic Ritji Yilkudi, fired back in reply:”Where were the former Ministers of Humanitarian?. Nentawe is not a toddler. Ask yourself why is he a Professor?. He is learned. Experienced and not your regular kind of a politician. He is a man that can navigate complex situations with ease.”
This reply elicited yet an acidic response from Julius Achigak, who posted:”The go soon sack him”.
Apparently riled by the last remark, Finger Damulak Denison Nanfa, weighed in thus:”Where you failed because of hatred, He succeed…You can’t fight God’s grace…Rest small please.”
“BP will soon kill some data boy girls seeking for attention,” posted Ritji Simon.
On and on, back and forth the salvoes and counter-responses went.
Nonetheless, former Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and APC stalwart, Professor Danladi Abok Atu, congratulated Professor Yilwatda on his emergence as the party’s substantive National Chairman.
In a five-paragraph post by his media aide, Dafir Zughumnaan, the ex-SSG described Nentawe’s emergence as “a source of great pride and inspiration, not only for the APC but especially for the people of Plateau State.”
He noted that Yilwatda brings fresh leadership, capacity, and a wealth of experience to steer the affairs of Africa’s largest political party.
The post read, in part: “As a technocrat, politician, and public servant, he has proven himself through previous high-level assignments—including as a University Lecturer, INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Minister of the Federal Republic, and APC Gubernatorial Candidate in the 2023 General Elections.
‘Prof. Atu emphasized that this appointment marks a historic return of Plateau State to national party leadership, last held during the tenure of the late Chief Solomon Daushep Lar.
“He assured Prof. Nentawe of his personal support and that of the APC family in Plateau State, expressing confidence in his ability to unite and lead the party effectively.
“He thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, the APC National Assembly leadership, APC Governors, NEC members, and all stakeholders for the confidence reposed in Prof. Nentawe.
“Prof. Atu also observed that the widespread celebration that followed the announcement is a clear testament to Prof. Nentawe’s goodwill and national appeal. He called for prayers and support for the new National Chairman as he embarks on this important task.”
