List of governors of Anambra State

[[File:Nigeria - Anambra.svg|thumb|263px|Location of Anambra State in Nigeria|alt=Map of Nigeria showing Anambra State]]

[[File:Nigeria - Anambra.svg|thumb|263px|Location of Anambra State in Nigeria|alt=Map of Nigeria showing Anambra State]]

[[Anambra State]], located in the [[South East (Nigeria)|South East]] geopolitical zone of [[Nigeria]],{{efn|[[Geopolitical zones in Nigeria|Geopolitical zones]] are [[Subdivisions of Nigeria|administrative groupings]] of [[States of Nigeria|Nigeria's states]] into six broad regions. Introduced during the military rule of [[Sani Abacha]], the zones were designed to reflect regional cultural, economic, and political distinctions and have since served as frameworks for allocating resources, infrastructure, and representation across the country.<ref name="b650">{{cite news | last=Ojo | first=Jide | title=Nigeria’s geopolitical zones as development centres | newspaper=[[The Punch]] |issn=0331-2666 | date=23 April 2025 | url=https://punchng.com/nigerias-geopolitical-zones-as-development-centres/ | access-date=4 July 2025}}</ref>}} has been governed by a succession of [[military junta|military governors]], [[Administrator of the government|administrators]], and [[civil authority|elected governors]] since its formation on 3 February 1976, when the former [[East Central State]] was divided into [[Anambra State|Anambra]] and [[Imo State|Imo]]. This action was part of a nationwide state-creation reform under the military regime of [[Murtala Mohammed]]. Before 1976, the area lay within the [[Eastern Region, Nigeria|Eastern Region]]. After the regional system was dissolved on 27 May 1967 by [[Yakubu Gowon]] during the [[Nigerian Civil War]], the Eastern Region was split into [[East Central State]], [[Rivers State]], and [[South-Eastern State]].{{efn|Nigeria's regional system of government was a decentralised political structure where the country was divided into autonomous regions—each with its own legislature, executive, and judiciary—allowing them to govern internal affairs and manage resources independently, while still operating under a central federal authority.<ref name="k282">{{cite news |last=Oluwadele |first=Boluwatife |title=Thoughts on the proposed regional government in Nigeria |date=27 November 2024 |newspaper=[[Premium Times]] |url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/matchesresults/757196-thoughts-on-the-proposed-regional-government-in-nigeria-by-bolutife-oluwadele.html |issn=2360-7688 |access-date=28 March 2025 |archive-date=28 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241128015254/https://www.premiumtimesng.com/matchesresults/757196-thoughts-on-the-proposed-regional-government-in-nigeria-by-bolutife-oluwadele.html |url-status=live}}</ref>}} East Central State covered much of the Igbo-speaking area until its division in 1976. During that period, [[Ukpabi Asika]] served as administrator until 1975, followed by [[Anthony Ochefu]] until the state's dissolution. The capital, [[Enugu (city)|Enugu]], became capital of the newly formed Anambra State and later of Enugu State. From its creation in 1976, Anambra State was governed by military appointees: [[John Atom Kpera]] (March 1976–July 1978) and [[Datti Sadiq Abubakar]] (July 1978–October 1979). With the advent of the [[Second Republic of Nigeria|Second Republic]] in October 1979, [[Jim Nwobodo]] of the [[Nigerian Peoples Party]] (NPP) served as the first civilian governor (October 1979–December 1983), succeeded briefly by [[Christian Onoh]] of the [[National Party of Nigeria]] (NPN) (October–December 1983). Military rule returned in late 1983, and between 1984 and 1992 the state was led by [[Allison Madueke]] (1984–1985), [[Samson Omeruah]] (1985–1987), [[Robert Akonobi]] (1987–1990), and [[Herbert Eze]] (1990–1992), with [[Joseph Abulu]] serving briefly in 1991.

[[Anambra State]], located in the [[South East (Nigeria)|South East]] geopolitical zone of [[Nigeria]],{{efn|[[Geopolitical zones in Nigeria|Geopolitical zones]] are [[Subdivisions of Nigeria|administrative groupings]] of [[States of Nigeria|Nigeria's states]] into six broad regions. Introduced during the military rule of [[Sani Abacha]], the zones were designed to reflect regional cultural, economic, and political distinctions and have since served as frameworks for allocating resources, infrastructure, and representation across the country.<ref name="b650">{{cite news | last=Ojo | first=Jide | title=Nigeria’s geopolitical zones as development centres | newspaper=[[The Punch]] |issn=0331-2666 | date=23 April 2025 | url=https://punchng.com/nigerias-geopolitical-zones-as-development-centres/ | access-date=4 July 2025}}</ref>}} has been governed by a succession of [[military junta|military governors]], [[Administrator of the government|administrators]], and [[civil authority|elected governors]] since its formation on 3 February 1976, when the former [[East Central State]] was divided into [[Anambra State|Anambra]] and [[Imo State|Imo]]. This action was part of a nationwide state-creation reform under the military regime of [[Murtala Mohammed]]. Before 1976, the area lay within the [[Eastern Region, Nigeria|Eastern Region]]. After the regional system was dissolved on 27 May 1967 by [[Yakubu Gowon]] during the [[Nigerian Civil War]], the Eastern Region was split into [[East Central State]], [[Rivers State]], and [[South-Eastern State]].{{efn|Nigeria's regional system of government was a decentralised political structure where the country was divided into autonomous regions—each with its own legislature, executive, and judiciary—allowing them to govern internal affairs and manage resources independently, while still operating under a central federal authority.<ref name="k282">{{cite news |last=Oluwadele |first=Boluwatife |title=Thoughts on the proposed regional government in Nigeria |date=27 November 2024 |newspaper=[[Premium Times]] |url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/matchesresults/757196-thoughts-on-the-proposed-regional-government-in-nigeria-by-bolutife-oluwadele.html |issn=2360-7688 |access-date=28 March 2025 |archive-date=28 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241128015254/https://www.premiumtimesng.com/matchesresults/757196-thoughts-on-the-proposed-regional-government-in-nigeria-by-bolutife-oluwadele.html |url-status=live}}</ref>}} East Central State covered much of the [[Igbo language|Igbo-speaking]] area until its division in 1976. During that period, [[Ukpabi Asika]] served as administrator until 1975, followed by [[Anthony Ochefu]] until the state's dissolution. The capital, [[Enugu (city)|Enugu]], became capital of the newly formed Anambra State and later of Enugu State. From its creation in 1976, Anambra State was governed by military appointees: [[John Atom Kpera]] (March 1976–July 1978) and [[Datti Sadiq Abubakar]] (July 1978–October 1979). With the advent of the [[Second Republic of Nigeria|Second Republic]] in October 1979, [[Jim Nwobodo]] of the [[Nigerian Peoples Party]] (NPP) served as the first civilian governor (October 1979–December 1983), succeeded briefly by [[Christian Onoh]] of the [[National Party of Nigeria]] (NPN) (October–December 1983). Military rule returned in late 1983, and between 1984 and 1992 the state was led by [[Allison Madueke]] (1984–1985), [[Samson Omeruah]] (1985–1987), [[Robert Akonobi]] (1987–1990), and [[Herbert Eze]] (1990–1992), with [[Joseph Abulu]] serving briefly in 1991.

During the [[Third Republic of Nigeria|Third Republic]], [[Chukwuemeka Ezeife]] of the [[Social Democratic Party]] (SDP) held office from January 1992 until the [[1993 Nigerian coup d'état|1993 coup]]. Subsequent administrators included [[Dabo Aliyu]], [[Mike Attah]] (1993–1996), [[Rufai Garba]] (1996–1998), and [[Emmanuel Ukaegbu]] (1998–1999). With the return of democracy under the [[Fourth Republic of Nigeria|Fourth Republic]] in 1999, elected governors have been: [[Chinwoke Mbadinuju]] of the [[Peoples Democratic Party (Nigeria)|People's Democratic Party (PDP)]] (1999–2003); [[Chris Ngige]] (PDP, 2003–2006); [[Peter Obi]] of the [[All Progressives Grand Alliance]] (APGA) (March 2006–November 2006; reinstated February 2007–March 2014); [[Virginia Etiaba]] (November 2006–February 2007); [[Andy Uba]] (May 2007; 16 days); [[Willie Obiano]] (APGA, 2014–2022); and [[Charles Chukwuma Soludo]] (APGA, March 2022–present).

During the [[Third Republic of Nigeria|Third Republic]], [[Chukwuemeka Ezeife]] of the [[Social Democratic Party]] (SDP) held office from January 1992 until the [[1993 Nigerian coup d'état|1993 coup]]. Subsequent administrators included [[Dabo Aliyu]], [[Mike Attah]] (1993–1996), [[Rufai Garba]] (1996–1998), and [[Emmanuel Ukaegbu]] (1998–1999). With the return of democracy under the [[Fourth Republic of Nigeria|Fourth Republic]] in 1999, elected governors have been: [[Chinwoke Mbadinuju]] of the [[Peoples Democratic Party (Nigeria)|People's Democratic Party (PDP)]] (1999–2003); [[Chris Ngige]] (PDP, 2003–2006); [[Peter Obi]] of the [[All Progressives Grand Alliance]] (APGA) (March 2006–November 2006; reinstated February 2007–March 2014); [[Virginia Etiaba]] (November 2006–February 2007); [[Andy Uba]] (May 2007; 16 days); [[Willie Obiano]] (APGA, 2014–2022); and [[Charles Chukwuma Soludo]] (APGA, March 2022–present).