By Amofokhai Williams
All Progressives Congress National Chairman Professor Nentawe Yilwatda has begun a two-week vacation outside Nigeria after what the party described as an exceptionally demanding first year in office, Special Adviser on Media and Information Strategy Abimbola Tooki said on Wednesday.
Tooki stated that the break is a well-deserved period of rest and personal rejuvenation following months of intense party engagements, consultations, travels and strategic work aimed at repositioning and strengthening the ruling party.
He disclosed that since assuming office, Yilwatda has worked closely with the National Working Committee, governors, members of the National Assembly, state structures, elected officials, stakeholders and millions of party members to build a stronger, more cohesive and electorally competitive APC.
Under his leadership the party successfully organised and concluded its National Convention, strengthened internal structures and conducted primary elections at various levels in preparation for the 2027 general elections, Tooki said. Those achievements, coming in a relatively short time, had further consolidated the APC’s position as Nigeria’s leading political party and one of Africa’s largest political organisations, he added.
The vacation is not a disengagement from party affairs, Tooki emphasised. It will allow the chairman to step back briefly from day-to-day intensity, recharge and reflect on the responsibilities ahead. Yilwatda will use the period to rest, retool and sharpen his strategic thinking ahead of 2027, which Tooki described as a defining moment for the APC and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda.
Tooki revealed that the chairman will also put finishing touches to the design and planning of the forthcoming National Working Committee retreat. The retreat is expected to give the NWC a platform to review the party’s journey so far, identify emerging challenges and agree on strategies for the months ahead, while strengthening coordination and preparedness for the electoral season.
Leadership of a national party requires not only constant engagement but also periods of reflection and renewal, Tooki stated. He said Yilwatda’s decision to take a brief vacation is therefore both timely and necessary after a sustained period of rigorous activity.
The chairman remains fully committed to the party, Tooki added. His temporary absence will not affect operations, as the National Working Committee continues to discharge its duties in line with the party constitution. Yilwatda is expected to return at the end of the two weeks and resume engagements with renewed energy and focus.
