The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has commenced a two-week vacation outside Nigeria, with the party saying the break will enable him to rest, reflect and strategise ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The development comes after what the party described as an exceptionally demanding first year of Yilwatda’s tenure, marked by extensive consultations, travels and activities aimed at strengthening the ruling party’s structures ahead of the next electoral cycle.
In a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the National Chairman on Media and Information Strategy, Abimbola Tooki, on Wednesday, the APC said the vacation was not a withdrawal from party activities but an opportunity for the chairman to temporarily step away from the demands of his office and prepare for the challenges ahead.
Since assuming the leadership of the party, Yilwatda has worked with the National Working Committee, governors, National Assembly members, state party structures, elected officials and other stakeholders in efforts to consolidate the APC.
The party listed the successful organisation and conclusion of its National Convention, strengthening of its internal structures and the conduct of primary elections at various levels among the major activities undertaken under Yilwatda’s leadership.
According to the statement, the vacation would also enable the chairman to reflect on the next phase of the party’s development and put finishing touches to plans for the forthcoming National Working Committee retreat.
The retreat is expected to provide an opportunity for members of the NWC to assess the party’s progress, identify emerging challenges and develop strategies for the months leading to the 2027 elections.
The APC said the period of respite was particularly important given the demands of leading a national political party and the need for its chairman to combine constant engagement with strategic reflection and renewal.
“Professor Yilwatda will use the period to rest, retool and further sharpen his strategic thinking ahead of the 2027 general elections,” the statement said.
The party maintained that Yilwatda’s absence from the country would not affect its operations, stressing that the NWC would continue to discharge its responsibilities in line with the APC constitution and established procedures.
The chairman is expected to return to Nigeria at the end of the two-week vacation and resume his official engagements.
The APC said Yilwatda remained committed to strengthening the party and advancing its objectives ahead of the 2027 elections and the continuation of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda.
