Nigeria operates under a federal system of government, made up of 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Each of these states is administered by an elected Governor, who serves as the chief executive officer responsible for overseeing state affairs, including governance, security, infrastructure, economic planning, and the implementation of state policies. Governors are elected for a four-year tenure, with the option of seeking a second term through re-election.
In situations where a sitting governor is unable to continue in office, the Deputy Governor—who is constitutionally the second-highest official in the state’s executive hierarchy—assumes leadership. The Federal Capital Territory, however, does not have an elected governor; instead, it is administered by a Minister appointed by the President of Nigeria.
As of May 2025, Nigeria’s 36 states are led by governors representing various political parties. The current distribution stands at 22 states under the All Progressives Congress (APC), 11 states led by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), while the Labour Party (LP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) control one state each.
Governors across the country collectively form the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, a non-partisan assembly that provides a platform for state leaders to engage the Federal Government on matters of mutual interest. Additionally, partisan platforms like the Progressive Governors’ Forum and the PDP Governors’ Forum also exist, offering avenues for governors aligned with respective political parties to collaborate.
Eligibility for the office of Governor in Nigeria is determined by constitutional provisions. A candidate must be a Nigerian citizen by birth, at least 35 years of age, a registered member of a political party, and formally sponsored by that party. No individual is permitted to serve as a state governor for more than two consecutive four-year terms.
In line with the Seventh Schedule of the Nigerian Constitution, every elected governor is required to take an oath of office, pledging loyalty to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, a commitment to uphold the Constitution, and a promise to serve the people of their state with integrity, fairness, and dedication.
Below is the latest, up-to-date breakdown of Nigeria’s 36 state Governors, their Deputies, the political parties they represent, and the dates they assumed office — followed by detailed profiles and background information on each.
Current List Of Nigerian State Governors and Their Deputies (2025)
| State | Governor | Deputy Governor | Party |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abia | Alex Otti | Ikechukwu Emetu | LP |
| Adamawa | Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri | Kaletapwa Farauta | PDP |
| Akwa Ibom | Umo Eno | Akon Eyakenyi | PDP |
| Anambra | Charles Soludo | Onyeka Ibezim | APGA |
| Bauchi | Bala Muhammed | Auwal Jatau | PDP |
| Bayelsa | Douye Diri | Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo | PDP |
| Benue | Hyacinth Alia | Samuel Ode | APC |
| Borno | Babagana Zulum | Umar Usman Kadafur | APC |
| Cross River | Bassey Otu | Peter Odey | APC |
| Delta | Sheriff Oborevwori | Monday Onyeme | APC |
| Ebonyi | Francis Nwifuru | Patricia Obila | APC |
| Edo | Monday Okpebholo | Dennis Idahosa | APC |
| Ekiti | Biodun Oyebanji | Monisade Afuye | APC |
| Enugu | Peter Mbah | Ifeanyi Ossai | PDP |
| Gombe | Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya | Manasseh Daniel Jatau | APC |
| Imo | Hope Uzodinma | Chinyere Ekomaru | APC |
| Jigawa | Umar Namadi | Aminu Usman | APC |
| Kaduna | Uba Sani | Hadiza Balarabe | APC |
| Kano | Abba Kabir Yusuf | Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo | NNPP |
| Katsina | Dikko Umaru Radda | Faruk Lawal Jobe | APC |
| Kebbi | Nasir Idris | Abubakar Umar Argungu | APC |
| Kogi | Ahmed Usman Ododo | Salifu Joel | APC |
| Kwara | AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq | Kayode Alabi | APC |
| Lagos | Babajide Sanwo-Olu | Femi Hamzat | APC |
| Nasarawa | Abdullahi Sule | Emmanuel Akabe | APC |
| Niger | Mohammed Umar Bago | Yakubu Garba | APC |
| Ogun | Dapo Abiodun | Noimot Salako-Oyedele | APC |
| Ondo | Lucky Aiyedatiwa | Olayide Adelami | APC |
| Osun | Ademola Adeleke | Kola Adewusi | PDP |
| Oyo | Seyi Makinde | Bayo Lawal | PDP |
| Plateau | Caleb Mutfwang | Josephine Piyo | PDP |
| Rivers | Siminalayi Fubara | Ngozi Odu | PDP |
| Sokoto | Ahmad Aliyu | Idris Muhammad Gobir | APC |
| Taraba | Agbu Kefas | Aminu Abdullahi Alkali | PDP |
| Yobe | Mai Mala Buni | Idi Barde Gubana | APC |
| Zamfara | Dauda Lawal | Mani Mallam Mummuni | PDP |
Full Profiles and Biographical Details
Abia State
- Governor: Alex Otti
- Date of Birth: February 1965
- Education: University of Port Harcourt (Economics), University of Lagos (MBA)
- Career: Former Group Managing Director, Diamond Bank; Economist; Politician
- Deputy Governor: Ikechukwu Emetu
Adamawa State
- Governor: Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri
- Date of Birth: October 1967
- Education: University of Maiduguri (History)
- Career: Former Speaker, Adamawa State House of Assembly; Politician
- Deputy Governor: Kaletapwa Farauta
Akwa Ibom State
- Governor: Umo Eno
- Date of Birth: April 1964
- Education: University of Uyo
- Career: Entrepreneur; Pastor; Politician
- Deputy Governor: Akon Eyakenyi
Anambra State
- Governor: Charles Soludo
- Date of Birth: July 1960
- Education: University of Nigeria, Nsukka (Economics); University of Oxford (Post-doctoral)
- Career: Former Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria; Economist; Professor
- Deputy Governor: Onyeka Ibezim
Bauchi State
- Governor: Bala Muhammed
- Date of Birth: October 1958
- Education: University of Maiduguri (English)
- Career: Former Minister of FCT; Politician
- Deputy Governor: Auwal Jatau
Bayelsa State
- Governor: Douye Diri
- Date of Birth: June 1959
- Education: College of Education, Port Harcourt; University of Port Harcourt (B.Ed)
- Career: Former Senator; Politician
- Deputy Governor: Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo
Benue State
- Governor: Hyacinth Alia
- Date of Birth: May 1966
- Education: N/A
- Career: Catholic Priest; Politician
- Deputy Governor: Samuel Ode
- Date of Birth: November 7, 1968
- Education: University of Jos (B.A. Theatre Arts); Nigerian Law School (Called to Bar, 2019)
- Career: Former Minister of State, Niger Delta Ministry; Lawyer; Politician
Borno State
- Governor: Babagana Zulum
- Date of Birth: August 1969
- Education: University of Maiduguri (Agricultural Engineering); University of Ibadan (Ph.D.)
- Career: Former Commissioner for Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement; Academic
- Deputy Governor: Umar Usman Kadafur
Cross River State
- Governor: Bassey Otu
- Date of Birth: October 1959
- Education: University of Calabar
- Career: Former Senator; Politician
- Deputy Governor: Peter Odey
Delta State
- Governor: Sheriff Oborevwori
- Date of Birth: June 1963
- Education: Ambrose Alli University (Political Science); Delta State University (M.Sc. Political Science)
- Career: Former Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly; Politician
- Deputy Governor: Monday Onyeme
Ebonyi State
- Governor: Francis Nwifuru
- Date of Birth: February 1975
- Education: Ebonyi State University
- Career: Former Speaker, Ebonyi State House of Assembly; Politician
- Deputy Governor: Patricia Obila
Edo State
- Governor: Monday Okpebholo
- Date of Birth: N/A
- Education: N/A
- Career: N/A
- Deputy Governor: Dennis Idahosa
Ekiti State
- Governor: Biodun Oyebanji
- Date of Birth: December 21, 1967
- Education: University of Ibadan (Political Science)
- Career: Former Secretary to the State Government; Politician
- Deputy Governor: Monisade Afuye
Enugu State
- Governor: Peter Mbah
- Date of Birth: March 17, 1972
- Education: University of East London; Nigerian Law School
- Career: Lawyer; Entrepreneur; Politician
- Deputy Governor: Ifeanyi Ossai
Gombe State
- Governor: Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya
- Date of Birth: October 9, 1961
- Education: Ahmadu Bello University (Accounting)
- Career: Former Commissioner for Finance; Politician
- Deputy Governor: Manasseh Daniel Jatau
Imo State
- Governor: Hope Uzodinma
- Date of Birth: December 12, 1958
- Education: University of Nigeria, Nsukka
- Career: Businessman; Politician
- Deputy Governor: Chinyere Ekomaru
Jigawa State
- Governor: Umar Namadi
- Date of Birth: N/A
- Education: N/A
- Career: N/A
- Deputy Governor: Aminu Usman
Kaduna State
- Governor: Uba Sani
- Date of Birth: December 31, 1970
- Education: Kaduna Polytechnic; University of Ibadan
- Career: Engineer; Politician
- Deputy Governor: Hadiza Balarabe
Kano State
- Governor: Abba Kabir Yusuf
- Date of Birth: January 5, 1963
- Education: Bayero University Kano
- Career: Engineer; Politician
- Deputy Governor: Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo
Katsina State
- Governor: Dikko Umaru Radda
- Date of Birth: September 10, 1969
- Education: Ahmadu Bello University; Nigerian Defence Academy
- Career: Economist; Politician
- Deputy Governor: Faruk Lawal Jobe
Kebbi State
- Governor: Nasir Idris
- Date of Birth: N/A
- Education: N/A
- Career: N/A
- Deputy Governor: Abubakar Umar Argungu
Kogi State
- Governor: Ahmed Usman Ododo
- Date of Birth: N/A
- Education: N/A
- Career: N/A
- Deputy Governor: Salifu Joel
Kwara State
- Governor: AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq
- Date of Birth: February 5, 1960
- Education: N/A
- Career: Businessman; Politician
- Deputy Governor: Kayode Alabi
Lagos State
- Governor: Babajide Sanwo-Olu
- Date of Birth: June 25, 1965
- Education: University of Lagos; London Business School
- Career: Banker; Politician
- Deputy Governor: Femi Hamzat
- Date of Birth: September 19, 1964
- Education: University of Ibadan; Cranfield University
- Career: Engineer; Politician
Nasarawa State
- Governor: Abdullahi Sule
- Date of Birth: December 26, 1959
- Education: Indiana State University
- Career: Engineer; Politician
- Deputy Governor: Emmanuel Akabe
Niger State
- Governor: Mohammed Umar Bago
- Date of Birth: February 22, 1974
- Education: Usmanu Danfodiyo University; University of Calabar
- Career: Banker; Politician
- Deputy Governor: Yakubu Garba
Ogun State
- Governor: Dapo Abiodun
- Date of Birth: May 29, 1960
- Education: Obafemi Awolowo University
- Career: Businessman; Politician
- Deputy Governor: Noimot Salako-Oyedele
Ondo State
- Governor: Lucky Aiyedatiwa
- Date of Birth: January 12, 1965
- Education: N/A
- Career: Businessman; Politician
- Deputy Governor: Olayide Adelami
Osun State
- Governor: Ademola Adeleke
- Date of Birth: May 13, 1960
- Education: Jacksonville State University
- Career: Businessman; Politician
- Deputy Governor: Kola Adewusi
Oyo State
- Governor: Seyi Makinde
- Date of Birth: December 25, 1967
- Education: University of Lagos; MIT
- Career: Engineer; Politician
- Deputy Governor: Bayo Lawal
Plateau State
- Governor: Caleb Mutfwang
- Date of Birth: March 12, 1965
- Education: University of Jos
- Career: Lawyer; Politician
- Deputy Governor: Josephine Piyo
Rivers State
- Governor: Siminalayi Fubara
- Date of Birth: January 28, 1975
- Education: N/A
- Career: Accountant; Politician
- Deputy Governor: Ngozi Odu
Sokoto State
- Governor: Ahmad Aliyu
- Date of Birth: N/A
- Education: N/A
- Career: N/A
- Deputy Governor: Idris Muhammad Gobir
Taraba State
- Governor: Agbu Kefas
- Date of Birth: N/A
- Education: N/A
- Career: N/A
- Deputy Governor: Aminu Abdullahi Alkali
Yobe State
- Governor: Mai Mala Buni
- Date of Birth: November 19, 1967
- Education: N/A
- Career: Politician
- Deputy Governor: Idi Barde Gubana
Zamfara State
- Governor: Dauda Lawal
- Date of Birth: September 2, 1965
- Education: Ahmadu Bello University; University of London
- Career: Banker; Politician
- Deputy Governor: Mani Mallam Mummuni
