List Of Governors Of Abia State And Their Deputies (1991-Present)
This is the most comprehensive List of all Governors who have served Abia states, Including their Deputies:
Governor | Deputy Governor | Took Office | Left Office | Years in Office | Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Frank Ajobena | Unknown | August 28, 1991 | January, 1992 | 4 months | None |
Ogbonnaya Onu | Unknown | January, 1992 | November, 1993 | 1 year and 10 months | NRC |
Chinyere Ike Nwosu | Unknown | December 9, 1993 | September 14, 1994 | 9 months | None |
Temi Ejoor | Unknown | September 14, 1994 | August 22, 1996 | 1 year and 10 months | None |
Moses Fasanya | Unknown | August 22, 1996 | August, 1998 | 2 years | None |
Anthony Obi | Unknown | August, 1998 | May 29, 1999 | 9 months | None |
Orji Uzor Kalu | Enyinnaya Abaribe Chima Nwafor Acho Nwakanma | May 29, 1999 | May 29, 2007 | 8 years | PDP, PPA |
Theodore A. Orji | Eric Acho Nwakanma Ude Oko Chukwu | May 29, 2007 | May 29, 2015 | 8 years | PPA |
Okezie Ikpeazu | Ude Oko Chukwu | May 29, 2015 | May 29, 2023 | 8 years | PDP |
Alex Chioma Otti | Ikechukwu Lekwachi Emetu | May 29, 2023 | Incumbent | Ongoing (since May 29, 2023) | LP |
READ ALSO: List Of Jigawa State Governors And Their Deputies (1992-Present)
Who Was The First Civilian Governor Of Abia State?
The first civilian governor of Abia State was Ogbonnaya Onu, who started his time as governor in January 1992, shortly after the state was created on August 27, 1991.
Abia State was formed from the old Imo State, making Onu the first person to lead the new state. He was elected under the National Republican Convention (NRC), a political party that was active during Nigeria’s brief return to civilian rule in the early 1990s.
However, before he became the governor, Ogbonnaya Onu had an impressive academic background. He earned a First Class Degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Lagos in 1976.
Later, he went on to get a doctorate in the same field from the University of California, Berkeley. His strong academic record led him to a teaching role at the University of Port Harcourt, where he eventually became the head of the Department of Chemical Engineering.
Onu’s time as governor was cut short in November 1993 due to a military coup that ended Nigeria’s short-lived democracy. Despite only serving for a short time, Onu made efforts to improve education and build infrastructure in the new state.
These were key areas he focused on during his administration. Onu was also the presidential candidate for the All Peoples Party (APP) in 1999 and later served as the Minister of Science and Technology under President Muhammadu Buhari.
READ ALSO: Complete List Of Abia State House of Assembly Members
Who Is The Current Governor Of Abia State?
The current governor of Abia State is Alex Chioma Otti. He became the governor on May 29, 2023. Otti was born on February 18, 1965, in Isiala-Ngwa South, and he has a background in banking, economics, investment, and politics.
He has worked in different top positions in the banking sector before now. Otti started his education in Abia State, attending Secondary Technical School and Ngwa High School.
Then he went to the University of Port Harcourt and graduated with honors in economics in 1988. Otti also earned an MBA from the University of Lagos in 1994.
He attended top business schools like Wharton, Stanford, and Columbia to further his education. In politics, Otti first ran for governor in 2015 as a candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
However, the Supreme Court overturned the election results, so he did not become governor then. In May 2022, Otti joined the Labour Party and ran for governor again.
This time, he won the election in 2023, defeating Okey Ahiwe of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). As governor, Otti is focused on making Abia State better.
He wants to make sure that salaries and pensions are paid on time and has also taken steps to clean up the state by declaring a state of emergency on waste management. Otti’s goal is to work together with everyone in the state to improve the lives of its citizens.
READ ALSO: List Of All Ministers Of State For Agriculture And Food Security In Nigeria (2023-Present)
Who Is The Current Deputy Governor Of Abia State?
Ikechukwu Lekwachi Emetu is the current Deputy Governor of Abia State, having taken office on May 29, 2023, after the election of Governor Alex Otti, who is also from the Labour Party (LP).
Emetu was born in 1985, so he was 39 years old when he became Deputy Governor. He is the second-highest official in the state government, and his responsibilities Include supporting the governor in running the state and taking on the governor’s duties if the governor is unable to do so.
Ikechukwu Emetu is committed to working closely with Governor Otti to solve important issues in Abia State. One of their main goals is to resolve border disputes and start development projects that will help rebuild the state.
Emetu’s experience in governance is expected to help the administration improve the lives of people in Abia. The election of Emetu and Governor Otti represents a new beginning for the state, and they plan to introduce policies that promote transparency, accountability, and sustainable development.
