This guide contains a list of all the individuals who have served as governors of Anambra State from its creation on August 27, 1991, to the present day. You’ll also find information on the first governor of the state and the current governor. Let’s take a look at their full names, tenure, political party affiliation, whether they were military or civilian governors, and their dates of birth.
Full List of Anambra State Governors (from 9991)
| S/N | Names | DOB | Period | Political Party | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | John Atom Kpera | Jan 1941 | Mar 1976 – Jul 1978 | — | First Military Governor of Anambra |
| 2 | Col. D. N. Ejoor | — | Jul 1978 – Oct 1979 | — | Military Governor |
| 3 | Jim Nwobodo | 9 May 1940 | Oct 1979 – Dec 1983 | NPP | First elected civilian governor (old Anambra State) |
| 4 | Christian Onoh | 27 Apr 1927 | Oct 1983 – Dec 1983 | NPN | Short-lived civilian governor |
| 5 | Allison Madueke | 1944 | Jan 1984 – Aug 1985 | — | Military Governor |
| 6 | Samson Emeka Omeruah | 14 Aug 1943 | Aug 1985 – Dec 1987 | — | Military Governor |
| 7 | Ndubuisi Godwin Kanu | 3 Nov 1943 | Dec 1987 – Aug 1990 | — | Military Governor |
| 8 | Herbert Eze | 1948 | Aug 1990 – Aug 1991 | — | Military Governor |
| 9 | Joseph Abulu | — | Aug 1991 – Jan 1992 | — | Military |
| 10 | Chukwuemeka Ezeife | 20 Nov 1939 | Jan 1992 – Nov 1993 | SDP | First Civilian Governor of New Anambra |
| 11 | Dabo Aliyu | 29 Nov 1947 | Nov 1993 – Dec 1993 | — | Acting Administrator |
| 12 | Mike Attah | 1952 | Dec 1993 – Aug 1996 | — | Military |
| 13 | Rufai Garba | — | Aug 1996 – Aug 1998 | — | Military |
| 14 | Emmanuel Ukaegbu | — | Aug 1998 – May 1999 | — | Military |
| 15 | Chinwoke Mbadinuju | 14 Jun 1945 | May 1999 – May 2003 | PDP | — |
| 16 | Chris Ngige | 8 Aug 1952 | May 2003 – Mar 2006 | PDP | — |
| 17 | Peter Obi (1st term) | 19 Jul 1961 | Mar 2006 – Nov 2006 | APGA | — |
| 18 | Virginia Etiaba | 11 Nov 1942 | Nov 2006 – Feb 2007 | — | First Female Governor (Acting) |
| 19 | Andy Uba | 14 Dec 1958 | 29 May 2007 – 14 Jun 2007 | PDP | Tenure annulled |
| 20 | Peter Obi (2nd term) | 19 Jul 1961 | 14 Jun 2007 – Mar 2014 | APGA | Returned to complete second term |
| 21 | Willie Obiano | 8 Aug 1955 | Mar 2014 – Mar 2022 | APGA | — |
| 22 | Charles Soludo | 28 Jul 1960 | Mar 2022 – Present | APGA | Incumbent |
Who Was the First Governor of Anambra State?
The division of the East Central State in 1976 gave birth to the old Anambra and Imo States. Under the old Anambra, Colonel John Atom Kpera was appointed as the first governor. He attained the position through an appointment by the Head of State, General Murtala Ramat Mohammed, in March 1976. Colonel Kpera served as governor until July 1978. As a newly created state, John Kpera’s major contribution was the establishment of a solid administrative foundation for the effective management of the state’s resources.
Some of the key ministries he established included the Ministry of Works and Housing and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, which were responsible for employment, housing, fiscal management, and the broader economic development of Anambra. He also laid the foundation for improvements in the education and health sectors by setting up the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health to oversee these critical areas. History also records that John Kpera personally initiated the formation of the Anambra State Ministry of Finance.
John Atom Kpera is an indigene of Benue State. He was born in January 1941 in a town located in Gboko Local Government Area. After completing his primary and secondary education, he joined the Nigerian Army. To advance his military career, he attended a course at the Haile Selassie Military Academy in Ethiopia, where he completed his cadet training. This training earned him the rank of Second Lieutenant in the Nigerian Army in 1965. During his time in the military, he held various leadership positions and eventually retired as a Brigadier General.
Being the first governor of Anambra State was indeed a foundation-breaking achievement for the state. He successfully set up the core administrative structures and key ministries that continue to influence the governance of the state to this day. Additionally, John Atom Kpera was also the first person to govern Benue State as its military administrator, which further confirms his strong leadership capabilities.
Meet Colonel Herbert Obi-Eze former Governor
Lieutenant Colonel Herbert Obi-Eze was the first Military Administrator of the new Anambra State in 1991. Under the military regime, governors were appointed, not elected. Obi-Eze was appointed by General Ibrahim Babangida, who found him capable of managing the affairs of the newly created Anambra State.
Obi-Eze did not disappoint his appointer or the people. Under his leadership, Enugu State was successfully carved out of Anambra on August 27, 1991, a feat achieved with administrative efficiency. He also laid the foundations for the governance structure of Anambra State.
Upon the creation of Enugu State, Obi-Eze became the first Military Administrator of Enugu State in January 1992, and he handed over power in Anambra to the newly elected civilian governor Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, not Okwesilieze Nwodo (who was the first civilian governor of Enugu State).
Who Is the Current Governor of Anambra State?
Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo is the current governor of Anambra State. He assumed office on March 17, 2022, after being elected under the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). Since taking office, Governor Soludo has made significant strides across key sectors including infrastructure, education, healthcare, security, and youth empowerment. In terms of infrastructure, his administration has completed over 400 kilometers of new roads, upgraded and maintained existing ones, and renovated the long-abandoned Anambra Government House, which had remained unused for over 30 years. To address the state’s flooding challenges, he oversaw the development of adequate drainage systems across flood-prone areas.
In the education sector, Soludo introduced free tuition in public schools, leading to a sharp rise in student enrollment. He also removed unqualified teachers and replaced them with over 8,000 well-trained educators. To further modernize learning, more than 2,000 laptops were distributed to schools to boost ICT capacity. His healthcare reforms include the construction of five new general hospitals equipped with modern facilities, the rehabilitation of existing healthcare centers, and the employment of over 1,000 qualified health professionals. Additionally, he launched free maternal care services across the state.
Governor Soludo has also taken bold steps in improving security. Through the Agụnechemba Security Initiative, his government tackled criminal activity by dismantling hideouts and neutralizing threats in over eight local government areas. He also initiated a campaign against fake native doctors involved in ritual-related crimes. In terms of youth empowerment, more than 5,000 young people have been trained in various vocational skills, over 20,000 individuals gained digital skills, and the government has provided over ₦2 billion in startup grants to support their entrepreneurial ventures.
Conclusion
The development of Anambra State has progressed from one government to another. Each governor, as seen in the list above, made contributions. Whether large or small— that remain achievements worth noting. If you’ve read through the list, you should now be familiar with each of their names and their time in office, helping you track the significant improvements that took place during their tenures.
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