The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has commenced a two-week vacation outside Nigeria after a demanding first year at the helm of the ruling party.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday by Abimbola Tooki, Special Adviser to the National Chairman on Media and Information Strategy.
According to the statement, the break is intended to give Yilwatda time to rest, regain energy and reflect on the responsibilities facing the party as it prepares for the 2027 general elections.
The APC chairman has spent the past year undertaking consultations, travelling and participating in strategic engagements with various stakeholders as part of efforts to strengthen the party and reposition its structures.
Since taking over as national chairman, Yilwatda has worked with members of the National Working Committee (NWC), governors, National Assembly members, state party organisations, elected officials and other stakeholders in preparation for the next electoral cycle.
The statement listed the successful conduct of the APC National Convention, efforts to reinforce the party’s internal structures and the organisation of primary elections at different levels among the accomplishments recorded during his tenure.
“These achievements, coming within a relatively short period, have further consolidated the APC’s position as Nigeria’s leading political party and one of Africa’s largest and most formidable political organisations,” the statement said.
READ ALSO: 2027: No Political Contest Should Destroy Nigeria’s Unity, APC Chairman Warns
The party also clarified that Yilwatda’s absence should not be viewed as a withdrawal from his duties. Rather, it described the vacation as “an opportunity to step back briefly from the intensity of day-to-day activities, recharge and reflect on the enormous responsibilities ahead.”
The statement said the APC chairman would use the period to further develop his strategic plans for the 2027 elections, which the party considers significant to its future and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda.
Yilwatda is also expected to use the break to review the next phase of the APC’s development and finalise preparations for an upcoming retreat of the National Working Committee.
The proposed retreat will enable members of the NWC to assess the party’s progress, examine emerging challenges and determine strategies for the months ahead. It is also expected to improve coordination within the committee and strengthen preparations for the 2027 electoral season.
The APC assured that the chairman’s temporary absence from the country would not disrupt the party’s operations, noting that the NWC would continue to perform its duties in accordance with the party’s constitution and established procedures.
“The APC National Chairman remains fully committed to the party and its objectives,” the statement said.
Yilwatda is expected to return to Nigeria after the two-week vacation and continue his official engagements.