The appointment of former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, as the new national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has drawn criticism from opposition parties, who describe it as a move that threatens the independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of the 2027 general election.
Yilwatda, who previously served as a Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) with INEC, was formally named APC chairman following the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held on Thursday, July 24, 2025, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. He succeeds Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, who resigned on June 27, 2025, citing health challenges.
Opposition raises red flag
Critics argue that Yilwatda’s past affiliation with INEC casts a shadow on the commission’s independence. Yilwatda, an engineering professor and former academic at the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, was appointed as REC in July 2017 and served in Benue State. During his tenure, he oversaw elections in Benue, Anambra, Osun, Rivers, and Cross River states.
After resigning from INEC in 2022, he contested the 2023 Plateau State governorship election under the APC banner. Although he initially won at the election tribunal and Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court eventually upheld the victory of the incumbent governor, Caleb Mutfwang.
Diran Odeyemi, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) NEC, criticised Yilwatda’s emergence, saying it further exposes the perceived lack of independence of Nigeria’s electoral umpire.
“This appointment has again exposed who Prof. Yilwatda is. He has APC DNA, which raises serious concerns about his neutrality in his previous roles. This again raises the question of how truly independent INEC is,” Odeyemi said.
“Let’s hope his contemporaries are not still in charge of our elections. Otherwise, can we rightly conclude that election results have already been determined with his appointment as APC chairman?”
YPP calls for systemic reforms
Offering a different perspective, Wale Egbeola-Martins, National Publicity Secretary of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), acknowledged the controversy but urged a shift in focus towards electoral reform.
“While the concerns raised are understandable, the Young Progressives Party believes that the broader and more pressing issue lies in the urgent need to reform Nigeria’s electoral laws,” Egbeola-Martins stated.
“The credibility of our democratic process cannot hinge solely on individuals or their past affiliations but must be built on strong, transparent, and enforceable electoral frameworks.
“Once our electoral laws are thoroughly reformed and institutionalised, fears of undue influence, whether real or perceived, will be significantly minimised. Strengthening legal safeguards around the electoral process is the surest way to inspire public confidence and ensure that elections truly reflect the will of the people. For us, the focus should be on systemic integrity, not personalities.”
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