List of governors of Edo State

Governor of Edo State
Seal of Edo State of Nigeria
Flag of Edo State of Nigeria
Incumbent Godwin Obaseki since 12 November 2016
Government of Edo State
Style	Governor (informal) The Honorable (formal) His Excellency (courtesy)
Type	Head of state Head of government
Member of	Edo State Executive Branch National Economic Council
Reports to	President of Nigeria
Residence	Government House, Benin City [1]
Seat	Benin City
Appointer	Popular vote
Term length	Four years, renewable once consecutively
Constituting instrument	Constitution of Nigeria
Precursor	Military Governor of Edo State
Inaugural holder	John E.K Odigie-Oyegun
Formation	27 August 1991
Deputy	Deputy Governor of Edo State
Website	edostate.gov.ng

Edo State, situated in Nigeria's southern region, has had various leaders since its establishment on 27 August 1991, following the division of Bendel State into Edo and Delta States. The governorship position has transitioned from military to civilian leadership, reflecting Nigeria's political changes. Leaders include Chief Dennis Osadebay, who served as the Civilian Premier of the Mid-Western Region from August 1963 to January 1966, and Lt. Col. David Akpode Ejoor, the first military governor, who took office in January 1966. Brigadier General Samuel Ogbemudia governed the Mid-Western State from September 1967 to July 1975.

Subsequent governors, including Col. George Agbazika Innih, Commodore Husaini Abdullahi, and Prof. Ambrose Folorunsho Alli, governed the state. Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia returned as a civilian governor from October to December 1983 before the military reasserted control. John Odigie-Oyegun became the first civilian governor of Edo State from January 1992 to November 1993, followed by military governors. In the democratic era, Chief Lucky Igbinedion served from 1999 to 2007, and was succeeded by Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor. Adams Oshiomhole served from 2008 to 2016, followed by Godwin Obaseki, who was re-elected in 2020. The chronological record of Edo State governors shows the state's evolution through military and civilian administrations.

Prior to the establishment of Edo State, the area was part of the Mid-Western Region of Nigeria, created on 9 August 1963.^[2][3] The region was carved out of the Western Region, becoming Nigeria's fourth region. The Mid-Western Region had its premier and later military governors.^[3]

Chief Dennis Osadebay served as the region's first civilian leader, premier from August 1963 to January 1966.^[4] Political turmoil led to military administrations, starting with Lt. Col. David Akpode Ejoor in January 1966.^[5] The region experienced occupation during the Nigerian Civil War, with Major Albert Okonkwo administering the area from August to September 1967.^[6]

Brigadier General Samuel Ogbemudia served as military governor from September 1967 to July 1975.^[7] Col. George Agbazika Innih and Commodore Husaini Abdullahi later served as military governors.^[8][9] The Mid-Western Region's administrative history is relevant to the formation and early governance of Edo State.

Governors and Military Administrators of the Mid-Western Region, Nigeria

No.	Name		Title	Term in office	Notes
1		Dennis Osadebay (1911–1994) [10]	Civilian Premier	August 1963 – January 1966	First and only Premier of the Mid-Western Region
2		David Akpode Ejoor (1932–2019) [5]	Military Governor	January 1966[a] – August 1967	First military governor following the 1966 Nigerian coup d'état
3		Albert Okonkwo (????–????)	Biafran Occupation Administrator	August 1967 – September 1967	Administered the region under Biafran control during the Nigerian Civil War
4		Samuel Ogbemudia (1932–2017) [12]	Military Governor	September 1967[b] – July 1975	Known for post-war reconstruction and development projects[13]

Following the administrative changes in Nigeria, the Mid-Western Region was renamed Bendel State on 17 March 1976.^[14] This renaming was part of a broader national effort to reorganise Nigeria's states and local governments under the regime of General Murtala Mohammed.^[15] Bendel State combined areas of the old Mid-Western Region with Benin City as its capital.^[16]

Col. George Agbazika Innih was the first military governor of Bendel State.^[17] He was followed by Commodore Husaini Abdullahi, who governed from March 1976 to July 1978. Abubakar Waziri served as the military administrator from 24 July 1978 to 30 September 1979. Prof. Ambrose Folorunsho Alli was elected as the first executive civilian governor in October 1979 under the Unity Party of Nigeria and served until September 1983. Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia was elected as a civilian governor under the National Party of Nigeria, and briefly served from October to December 1983. His brief tenure was due to the 1983 military coup to oust Alhaji Shehu Shagari and install Muhammadu Buhari as military head of state.^[18]

Brigadier Jeremiah Timbut Useni took office in January 1984 and led till 27 August 1985, followed by Col. John Mark Inienger from September 1985 to July 1988. Col. Jonathan Tunde Ogbeha governed from July 1988 to August 1990, and Col. John Ewerekumoh Yeri served from August 1990 to August 1992. The state was divided into Edo and Delta States on 27 August 1991 with Yeri serving as the first military governor of the newly Edo State.^[18]

Executive Governors and Military Administrators of Bendel State, Nigeria

No.	Name		Title	Term in office	Notes
1		George Agbazika Innih (1938–2002) [8]	Military Governor	August 1975 – March 1976	Oversaw transition period following Ogbemudia's administration.
2		Husaini Abdullahi (1939–2019) [19]	Military Governor	March 1976[c] – July 1978	Continued military governance during the era of General Olusegun Obasanjo's military regime.
3		Abubakar Waziri (1940–2017) [20][21]	Military Governor	24 July 1978 – 30 September 1979	Also served as a brigade commander for Nigeria Army Benin City.[18]
4		Ambrose Folorunsho Alli (1929–1989) [22]	Executive Governor	October 1979 – September 1983	Elected as the first civilian governor of Bendel under the umbrella of the Unity Party of Nigeria.[18]
5		Samuel Ogbemudia (1922–2017) [12]	Executive Governor	October 1983 – 31 December 1983	Brief return to civilian rule under the umbrella of the National Party of Nigeria before the 1983 military coup.[18]
6		Jeremiah Useni (b. 1943) [23]	Military Governor	January 1984 – 27 August 1985
7		John Mark Inienger (1945–2002) [24][25]	Military Governor	September 1985 – July 1988
8		Jonathan Tunde Ogbeha (b. 1945) [24]	Military Governor	July 1988 – August 1990
9		John Ewerekumoh Yeri (????–????)	Military Governor	August 1990 – 27 August 1991 [d]	Last military governor before the creation of Edo and Delta States.[26]

Edo State was established on 27 August 1991, following the division of Bendel State into Edo and Delta States.^[27] Edo State, with Benin City as its capital, has a cultural heritage and economic potential.^[28] The state has experienced various governance phases, including military and civilian administrations.

Col. John Ewerekumoh Yeri served as the first military governor from August 1991 to January 1992. He was succeeded by John Odigie Oyegun, the first civilian governor, who served from January 1992 until November 1993. Subsequent military administrations included Col. Mohammed Abul-Salam Onuka, Col. Bassey Asuquo, Group Captain Baba Adamu Iyam, and Navy Captain Anthony Onyearugbulem, who governed until the return to civilian rule in 1999.^[24]

In 1999, Chief Lucky Igbinedion was elected, serving two terms until 2007. He was followed by Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, and Godwin Obaseki.^[24]

Military and Executive Governors of Edo State

No.	Governor			Term in office	Party	Election	D. Governor[e]
1			John Ewerekumoh Yeri (????–????)	27 August 1991 – January 1992	Military	N/A	Office did not exist
2			John Odigie Oyegun (b. 1939) [29][30]	January 1992[31] – November 1993	SDP [31]	1991
3			Mohammed Abul-Salam Onuka (????–????)	9 December 1993 – 14 September 1994 [30]	Military	N/A
4			Bassey Asuquo (????–????)	14 September 1994 – 22 August 1996 [30]	Military	N/A
5			Baba Adamu Iyam (1948–????) [30]	22 August 1996 – 7 August 1998 [f][30]	Military	N/A
6			Anthony Onyearugbulem (1955–2002) [30][32]	7 August 1998 – 29 May 1999 [30]	Military	N/A
7			Lucky Igbinedion (b. 1957) [30]	29 May 1999 – 29 May 2007	PDP [30]	1999 2003	Mike Oghiadomhe
8			Oserheimen Osunbor (b. 1951) [33][30]	29 May 2007 – 11 November 2008 (election declared invalid by Election Tribunal in March 2008)[30]	PDP [30]	2007	Lucky Imasuen
9			Adams Oshiomhole (b. 1952) [30]	12 November 2008 – 12 November 2016 (declared winner of the 2007 election on 11 November 2008)[30]	ACN[30] APC	2007 2012	Pius Odubu
10			Godwin Obaseki (b. 1957) [34]	12 November 2016 – Incumbent	APC[30] (2014–2020) PDP[34][35] (2020–present)	2016 2020	Philip Shaibu(November 2016–April 2024) Omobayo Godwins(since April 2024) Philip Shaibu(since July 2024)

• List of governors of Abia State
• States of Nigeria
• List of state governors of Nigeria

• Abernethy, D. B. (1964). "Nigeria creates a new region". Africa Report. ISSN 0001-9836. OCLC 772663659.
• Iweze, Daniel Olisa; Anyanwu, Uchenna (26 February 2021). "Post-Nigerian Civil War Community Reconstruction Strategies in (Anioma) Western Igboland, 1970-1991". Revista Brasileira de Estudos Africanos. 5 (10). doi:10.22456/2448-3923.104799. ISSN 2448-3923.