By Emma Peter, Abuja
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, has commenced a two-week vacation outside Nigeria to rest, rejuvenate and strategise ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to a press statement by Abimbola Tooki, Special Adviser to the National Chairman on Media and Information Strategy, the vacation follows an exceptionally demanding and eventful first year of Yilwatda’s tenure as leader of the ruling party.
Tooki said the period would provide the APC National Chairman an opportunity to step back briefly from the intensity of his day-to-day responsibilities, recharge and reflect on the enormous tasks ahead.
Since assuming office, Yilwatda has been actively involved in consultations, travels and strategic engagements aimed at strengthening the party and improving its internal cohesion.
According to the statement, he has worked closely with the National Working Committee (NWC), state governors, members of the National Assembly, state party structures, elected officials and other stakeholders across the country.
The statement said that under Yilwatda’s leadership, the APC successfully organised and concluded its National Convention, strengthened its internal structures and conducted primary elections at various levels in preparation for the 2027 general elections.
According to Tooki, these achievements, recorded within a relatively short period, have further consolidated the APC’s position as Nigeria’s leading political party and one of Africa’s largest political organisations.
The statement stressed that the vacation should not be interpreted as a disengagement from party affairs, noting that Yilwatda would use the period to rest, retool and sharpen his strategic thinking ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The APC National Chairman is also expected to reflect on the next phase of the party’s development and put finishing touches to the planning of the forthcoming National Working Committee Retreat.
According to the statement, the retreat is expected to provide an important platform for the NWC to review the party’s journey so far, identify emerging challenges and agree on strategies for the months ahead.
Tooki said the retreat would further strengthen coordination within the NWC and enhance the party’s preparedness for the demanding electoral season ahead.
The statement described Yilwatda’s decision to take a brief vacation as timely and necessary after a sustained period of intensive party activities, stressing that effective leadership requires not only constant engagement but also periods of reflection, strategic assessment and renewal.
According to the statement, the APC National Chairman remains fully committed to the party and its objectives, while his temporary absence from the country would not affect the operations or functioning of the party.
It added that the National Working Committee would continue to discharge its responsibilities in accordance with the APC constitution and established procedures during the period.
Yilwatda is expected to return to Nigeria at the end of the two-week vacation and resume his engagements with renewed energy and focus.
