| Governor of Bauchi State | |
|---|---|
 Seal of Bauchi State of Nigeria | |
 Flag of Bauchi State of Nigeria | |
since 29 May 2019 | |
| Government of Bauchi State | |
| Style |
|
| Type | Head of state Head of government |
| Seat | Bauchi |
| Constituting instrument | Constitution of Nigeria |
Bauchi State, located in the northeastern region of Nigeria, has experienced various forms of leadership since Nigeria's independence in 1960, including both military and civilian administrations. At the time of independence, the territory now known as Bauchi State was part of the Northern Region. In the state reorganization of 1967, the Northern Region was divided into six states, and the area comprising present-day Bauchi became part of the North-Eastern State. The first military governor of the newly created Northeastern state was Brigadier Musa Usman who was replaced in 1975 by Muhammadu Buhari. Bauchi State was created out of the Northeastern state in 1976, and Colonel Mohammed Bello Kaliel was the first military governor from 1976 to 1978. He was succeeded by another military administrator, Garba Duba, during the continued military regimes.
In 1979, Abubakar Tatari Ali became the first elected civilian governor of Bauchi State, serving under the National Party of Nigeria (NPN). His administration was cut short in 1983 by a military coup, after which various military governors took charge, including Chris Abutu Garuba, Joshua Madaki and Abu Ali. Between 1992 and 1993, there was a brief democratic government led by Dahiru Mohammed and was later overthrown by James Kalau, an administrator appointed by the General Sani Abacha Government. Hence, military administrators ruled Bauchi State from 1993 up till 1999.
In 1999, Ahmadu Adamu Mu'azu was elected as the civilian governor of Bauchi State and served two terms from 1999 to 2007 under the People's Democratic Party (PDP). In 2015, Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar of the All Progressives Congress (APC) became governor and served until 2019. Bala Mohammed of the PDP took office in 2019 and was re-elected in 2023 for a second term. He currently serves as the incumbent governor of Bauchi State.
List of governors
[edit]Northern region
[edit]At the time of Nigeria's independence in 1960, the country was divided into three regions: the Northern Region, the Western Region, and the Eastern Region.[1] Sir Ahmadu Bello served as the first Premier of the Northern Region under the Northern People's Congress (NPC).[2][3] Ahmadu Bello was assassinated in the 1966 during the first Nigeria military coup organised by General Aguiyi Ironsi.[4][5] Also, Major General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi was assassinated in July 1966 counter-coup, and Lieutenant Colonel Yakubu Gowon became the Head of State.[6] He abolished the existing regional structure in May 1967 and created twelve new states from the former regions. One of these newly created states was the North-Eastern State.[6][1]
Northeastern states
[edit]The first Military Governor of the North-Eastern State was Brigadier Musa Usman, who was appointed by General Yakubu Gowon following the creation of the state in 1967.[7]He administered the state from 1967 until 1975. After the bloodless coup of 29 July 1975, which removed Gowon from power and brought General Murtala Muhammad to office, Musa Usman was replaced by Colonel Muhammadu Buhari[7][8] Buhari served as the military administrator of the North-Eastern State until February 1976, when Murtala Muhammad was assassinated in a failed coup led by Lieutenant Colonel Bukar Suka Dimka.[9]
| No. | Portrait | Name | Title | Term in office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 
|
Musa Usman (1940–1991)[7] |
Military Governor | May 1967 – July 1975 |
The first military governor after the July 1967 Coup |
| 2 | 
|
Muhammadu Buhari (1942–2025)[10] |
Military Governor | July 1975 – February 1976 |
The last military governor of the Northeastern region |
Bauchi state
[edit]In 1976, under the military administration of General Murtala Muhammed, the former North-Eastern State was subdivided into three new states: Bauchi, Borno, and Gongola.[11][12]
Bauchi state officially came into existence on 3 February 1976.[6] The state's first military governor was Brigadier General Mohammad Bello Khaliel, who assumed office in March 1976, succeeding Colonel Muhammadu Buhari, the last military administrator of the North-Eastern State. Khaliel served until July 1978, after which Colonel Garba Duba was appointed and served as governor until October 1979, during the military regime of General Olusegun Obasanjo.[13]
In 1979, Abubakar Tatari Ali was elected as the governor of Bauchi State under National Party of Nigeria and his tenure lasted till 1983.[14][15] From 1984 to 1985, Colonel Mohammed Sani Sami served as the military governor of the state.[16] From 1993 to 1999, Bauchi State was under military rule with a series of appointed administrators: James Kalau (1993–1994),[17] Rasheed Adisa Raji (1994–1996), Theophilus Bamigboye (1996–1998), and Abdul Mshelia (1998–1999).[18]
In 1999, Ahmad Adamu Mu'azu of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) served as governor till 2007.[19]He was succeeded by Isa Yuguda, initially elected under the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in 2007, but who officially decamped to the PDP in June 2009.[20][21] Yuguda served two terms until 2015, when Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar of the All Progressives Congress (APC) took office. In 2019, Bala Mohammed of the PDP was elected governor and remains the incumbent as of 2025.[22]
| No. | Portrait | Name | Title | Term in office | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | — | Mohammed Bello Kaliel | Military Governor | March 1976 – July 1978 |
The first military governor of Bauchi State | |
| 2 | — | Garba Duba (1942–2024)[23] |
Military Governor | July 1978 – October 1979 | ||
| 3 | — | Abubakar Tatari Ali [14] |
Civilian Governor | October 1979 – December 1983 |
The first civilian governor of Bauchi State under the NPN | |
| 4 | — | Mohammed Sani Sami [16] |
Military Governor | January 1984 – August 1985 | ||
| 5 | — | Chris Abutu Garuba [13] |
Military Governor | August 1985 – December 1987 | ||
| 6 | — | Joshua Madaki (6 July 1947–7 May 2003)[24] |
Military Governor | December 1987 – August 1990 | ||
| 7 | — | Abu Ali |
Military Governor | August 1990 – January 1992 | ||
| 8 | — | Dahiru Mohammed | Civilian Governor | January 1992 – November 1993 |
NRC | |
| 9 | — | Rasheed Adisa Raji |
Military Administrator | 9 December 1993 – 14 September 1994 | ||
| 10 | — | James Kalau | Military Administrator | 14 September 1994 – 22 August 1996 | ||
| 11 | — | Theophilus Bamigboye |
Military Administrator | 22 August 1996 – August 1998 | ||
| 12 | — | Abdul Mshelia |
Military Administrator | August 1998 – May 1999 | ||
| 13 | — | Ahmad Adamu Mu'azu[19] (b. 11 June 1955) |
Civilian Governor | 29 May 1999 – 29 May 2007 |
PDP | |
| 14 | — | Isa Yuguda |
Civilian Governor | 29 May 2007 – 29 May 2015 |
ANPP Decamped to PDP 27 June 2009[21] |
|
| 15 | 
|
Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar |
Civilian Governor | 29 May 2015 – 29 May 2019 |
APC | |
| 16 | — | Bala Mohammed[22] (b. 5 October 1958) |
Civilian Governor | 29 May 2019 – Incumbent |
PDP |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b Oyedokun, Taofeek (10 February 2025). "From three to 36: Evolution of state creation in Nigeria". Business Day. Retrieved 6 April 2025.
- ^ Okafor, Chiamaka (8 June 2023). "From Balewa To Tinubu: Historical guide on Nigeria's 16 leaders since independence". Premium Times. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
- ^ Dare, Babarinsa (3 February 2022). "Power is not a faithful mistress". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
- ^ Tishken, Joel E.; Falola, Toyin (1998). "Violence in Nigeria: The Crisis of Religious Politics and Secular Ideologies". African Economic History (26): 208. doi:10.2307/3601699. JSTOR 3601699. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
- ^ Olomojobi, Yinka (2010). Explaining the Dynamics of Islam and Conflict: The Case of Northern Nigeria (PhD thesis). Lancaster, United Kingdom: Lancaster University. pp. 137–138. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
- ^ a b c N. Ota, Ejitu; S. Ecoma, Chinyere; Godwin Wambu, Chiemela (2020). "Creation of States in Nigeria, 1967-1996: Deconstructing the History and Politics" (PDF). American Research Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences. 6 (1): 2. ISSN 2378-7031.
- ^ a b c Teniola, Eric (10 September 2022). "Kanuris fly their flag again". The Punch. Retrieved 22 August 2025..
- ^ Teniola, Eric (6 July 2025). "50 years of Gowon's overthrow". The Punch. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
- ^ "Nigeria Arrests Leader of Coup". The New York Times. 7 March 1976. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 6 April 2025.
- ^ Okere, Alexander (13 July 2025). "UPDATED: Former President Muhammadu Buhari Dies At 82". Channels Television. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
- ^ Hassan, Gimba (23 January 2022). "The north-east: Which way forward?". TheCable. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
- ^ Tahir, Tahir Ibrahim (18 February 2025). "Bauchi state's forgotten forefathers". Blueprint. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
- ^ a b Idachaba, Eleojo (30 September 2022). "Garba Duba, Bongos Ikwue: Where are they now?". Blueprint. Retrieved 6 April 2025.
- ^ a b Kawule liman, Ibrahim (29 May 2018). "Remembering Tatari Ali - Daily Trust". Daily Trust. Retrieved 7 April 2025.
- ^ Owete, Festus. "Solomon Lar's death depletes rank of Nigeria's Second Republic Governors". Premium Times. Retrieved 7 April 2025.
- ^ a b Oluwafemi, Ayodele (17 August 2025). "Emir of Zuru dies in London after 'brief illness'". TheCable. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
- ^ Kalau, James Yana (1994). 100 days of dynamic leadership. Bauchi State of Nigeria. OCLC 33667145.,
- ^ "A list of state administrators in Nigeria shortly before and since the death of Sani Abacha [NGA30766.E]". www.ecoi.net. 18 December 1998. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
- ^ a b Henry, Umaru (21 January 2014). "The man Adamu Mu'azu". Vanguard. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
- ^ Suzan, Edeh (6 February 2014). "Mu'azu and Yuguda: Trouble is still ahead". Vanguard. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
- ^ a b Eribake, Akintayo (6 July 2010). "Court okays Yuguda's defection to PDP". Vanguard. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
- ^ a b "PROFILE: Bala Mohammed, Governor of Bauchi [2019 – ]". Premium Times. 25 January 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
- ^ Ahmadu Maishanu, Abubakar (17 May 2024). "Garba Duba, Nigerian Army general who participated in 1966 counter-coup, is dead". Premium Times. Retrieved 19 August 2025.
- ^ Onyekamu, Charles; Ali, Ali M.; Madugba, Agaju (9 May 2003). "Joshua Madaki, Ex-Gov, Dies in Road Crash". This Day. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 21 August 2025.