Constitutional Crisis: APC National Chairman Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda’s Dual Roles Spark Controversy
By Oludare Joshua
Nearly two months after assuming the role of National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda has yet to formally resign from his position as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, raising significant constitutional and ethical concerns.
Yilwatda was appointed Minister on July 24, 2025, succeeding Abdullahi Ganduje, who stepped down for health reasons. In a departure from standard practice, where cabinet members resign when taking on partisan leadership positions, Yilwatda has continued to occupy both roles—drawing attention from party insiders and legal experts alike.
Sources within the APC have revealed that key stakeholders are actively lobbying for Yilwatda’s vacant ministerial position, yet he seems intent on maintaining his dual roles as both minister and party chairman. Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has not yet announced a replacement for the Humanitarian Affairs Ministry, nearly two months after Yilwatda took over as national chairman.
Legal experts assert that Yilwatda’s retention of both positions contradicts the principle of separation between party administration and public office. According to Sections 147 and 192 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), ministers serve the federation rather than partisan interests. Additionally, Section 1 of the APC Constitution prohibits office holders from holding multiple executive roles that may lead to conflicts of interest.
This situation draws parallels to the controversial appointment of Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State, who became chair of the APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee while still serving as governor in 2020. That circumstance faced severe criticism and prompted the Supreme Court to caution that such dual roles could jeopardize the party’s legitimacy in electoral matters.
Despite mounting pressure, the presidency and APC leadership have yet to confirm Yilwatda’s resignation. Official government records still list him as Minister while he oversees sensitive APC matters, including strategies for the upcoming November off-cycle governorship polls.
Political analysts warn that the APC risks repeating past mistakes by prioritizing expediency over legality. “The APC is treading on dangerous ground,” remarked a political scientist from the University of Abuja. “Failing to resolve this issue could result in fresh legal challenges that might undermine the party’s standing in court during election disputes.”
As of press time, Yilwatda has not publicly addressed the controversy, and the Federal Government remains silent on the viability of his ministerial position.
Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN) urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to refrain from recognizing Yilwatda as the APC national chairman until he formally resigns as minister. He emphasized the illegality of a sitting minister holding a partisan role, stating, “A minister is a public officer serving all Nigerians and cannot have allegiance to only one political party. He must account for all salaries and entitlements he may still be receiving as Minister.”
Adegboruwa asserted, “As of now, the law holds that the APC has no national chairman. INEC should not acknowledge him until after his formal resignation from the ministerial role.”
Similarly, constitutional lawyer Chris Nwufo criticized Yilwatda’s failure to resign as a breach of both Nigeria’s constitution and the APC’s internal regulations: “It is unacceptable for a sitting minister, who should represent all Nigerians, to also serve as the partisan head of the ruling party. This situation undermines neutrality and legality.”
Attempts to contact APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka for comments were unsuccessful, as calls went unanswered.
