List of governors of Rivers State

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Governor of Rivers State
Your Excellency (courtesy)[1]
Member ofExecutive Council of Delta State[2]
Reports toPresident of Nigeria
ResidenceThe Brick House, Port Harcourt[3]
SeatPort Harcourt
AppointerPopular vote[2]
Term lengthFour years, renewable once consecutively[2]
Constituting instrumentConstitution of Nigeria
Inaugural holderMelford Okilo
Formation1 October 1979
DeputyDeputy governor of Rivers State
Map of Nigeria showing Rivers State
Location of Rivers State in Nigeria

transition to democracy
in 1999.

Since 1999, Rivers State has been governed by elected officials, beginning with

Ibok-Ete Ibas as the state's administrator. The decision has been met with controversy, with opposition governors challenging it at the Supreme Court
.

List of governors

Eastern Region

Before

Francis Akanu Ibiam (1960–1966) became the first Nigerian governor of the Eastern Region, while Michael Okpara served as its second premier (1960–1966) succeeding Nnamdi Azikiwe. However, following Nigeria’s first military coup in January 1966, the military abolished the regional system, dismissed civilian premiers, and appointed military administrators, with Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu governing the Eastern Region from January 1966 until its dissolution in May 1967.[5][6]

Rivers State

In May 1967, following Nigeria's restructuring by

Third Republic in 1993, and Rivers State was again placed under military administration until Nigeria's full return to democracy in 1999.[11]

Under the

Ibok-Ete Ibas as the administrator of the state, marking the first military-led administration in Rivers State since 1999.[16] The decision has been met with controversy, with seven opposition governors from the PDP challenging it at the Supreme Court, arguing that it violated the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria.[17]

Military Governors, Administrators and Civilian Governors of Rivers State
№ Governor Term in office Party Election D. Governor Notes
1 — Alfred Diete-Spiff
(b. 1942)
[7] 		May 1967
–
July 1975
[7] 		Military Governor — Office did not exist
2 Zamani Lekwot Zamani Lekwot
(b. 1944)
[18] 		July 1975
–
July 1978
[11]
3 — Suleiman Saidu July 1978
–
October 1979
[11]
4 — Melford Okilo
(b. 1933–d. 2008)
[19] 		October 1979
–
December 1983
[19] 		  NPN
[20] 		1979
1983 		Frank Eke
5 — Fidelis Oyakhilome
(b. 1939)
[21] 		January 1984
–
August 1986
[11] 		Military Governor — Office abolished
6 — Anthony Ukpo
(b. 1947)
[22] 		August 1986
–
July 1988
[11]
7 —
Ernest Adelaye
(b. 1943)
[23]
 July 1988
–
August 1990
[11]
8 Godwin Abbe Godwin Abbe
(b. 1949)
[24] 		August 1990
–
January 1992
[11]
9 — Rufus Ada George
(b. 1940)
[25] 		January 1992
–
November 1993
[11] 		  NRC
[26] 		1991 Peter Odili
10 —
Dauda Komo
 		December 1993
–
August 1996
[11] 		Military Governor — Office abolished
11 — Musa Shehu August 1996
–
August 1998
[11]
12 — Sam Ewang
(b. 1952)
[27] 		August 1998
–
August 1999
[11]
13 — Peter Odili
(b. 1948)
[28] 		29 May 1999
–
29 May 2007
[11][14] 		  PDP
[14][29] 		1999
2003 		Gabriel Toby
14 — Celestine Omehia
(b. 1959)
[30] 		29 May 2007
–
25 October 2007
[11][14] 		2007 Tele Ikuru In October 2007, Nigeria's Supreme Court annulled the election of Celestine Omehia, ruling that Rotimi Amaechi was the rightful candidate of the People's Democratic Party. Omehia had replaced Amaechi last-minute due to graft allegations, but the court reinstated him without fresh elections.[31]
15 Rotimi Amaechi Rotimi Amaechi
(b. 1965)
[32] 		29 October 2007
–
29 May 2015
[11][14] 		2011
16 Ezenwo Nyesom Wike
Ezenwo Nyesom Wike
 		29 May 2015
–
29 May 2023
[11][14] 		2015
2019 		Ipalibo Banigo
17 Siminalayi Fubara Siminalayi Fubara
(b. 1975)
[29] 		29 May 2023
–
Suspended
18 March 2025
[15][16] 		2023 Ngozi Odu Suspended by President Bola Tinubu since 18 March 2025 for six months[16]
18 Ibok Ekwe Ibas Ibok Ekwe Ibas
(b. 1960)
[33] 		18 March 2025
–
Incumbent
[11][33] 		Military Administrator — Office suspended

See also

Notes

  1. ^ 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.[4]

References

Citations

  1. ^ Akinpelu, Olusegun (17 December 2019). "From His Excellency to Mr Governor". This Day. Archived from the original on 27 September 2021. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d Article VI, Section II of the Constitution of Nigeria (1999)
  3. ISSN 0795-7475. Archived from the original
    on 24 July 2015. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
  4. ISSN 2360-7688. Archived
    from the original on 28 November 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
  5. ^ a b c Falola & Genova 2009, p. 103.
  6. ISBN 978-3-319-96219-1
    .
  7. ^
    ISSN 2360-7688. Archived
    from the original on 18 January 2018. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
  8. ^ Uzoatu 2011, p. 33.
  9. ISSN 1595-3793. Archived
    from the original on 8 August 2020. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
  10. ISBN 978-978-020-199-9
    .
  11. ^
    ISSN 0331-2615. Archived
    from the original on 19 June 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
  12. ISSN 0794-652X. Archived
    from the original on 30 May 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
  13. ISBN 978-978-2868-59-6
    .
  14. ^
    ISSN 1595-3793. Archived
    from the original on 29 September 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
  15. ^
    ISSN 0331-2615. Archived
    from the original on 27 May 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
  16. ^
    ISSN 0331-2615. Archived
    from the original on 28 March 2025. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
  17. Channels Television. Archived
    from the original on 28 March 2025. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
  18. ISSN 2006-7968. Archived
    from the original on 11 September 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
  19. ^ a b Ige-Edaba, Iboro (10 July 2020). "Remembering Melford Okilo". This Day. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
  20. ^ Uneze, Amby (10 July 2020). "Twelve Years After: Remembering Melford Okilo, The Country Man". This Day. Archived from the original on 17 June 2021. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
  21. ^ Osso 1990, p. 680.
  22. ISSN 0261-1570
    .
  23. ^ Osso 1990, p. 83.
  24. ^ Osso 1990, p. 11.
  25. ^ "Welcome to Ada George". Adageorge.org. 24 July 2011. Archived from the original on 22 June 2011. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
  26. ^ Idachaba, Sunny (31 March 2025). "Sarki Muktar, Rufus Ada George: Where are they now?". Blueprint Newspapers Limited. Archived from the original on 28 July 2023. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
  27. OCLC 47789089
    .
  28. ISBN 978-978-041-500-6
    .
  29. ^
    ISSN 1595-3793. Archived
    from the original on 30 October 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
  30. ISSN 0189-7365. Archived from the original
    on 30 September 2015. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
  31. ^ "Oil governor removed in Nigeria". BBC News. 25 October 2007. Archived from the original on 25 January 2021. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
  32. ^ Abdulkareem, Aliyu (20 May 2023). "Birthdays". Nigerian Tribune. Archived from the original on 21 May 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
  33. ^ a b John, Onuwa (18 March 2025). "Tinubu Appoints Ibas as Rivers Administrator". Prime 9ja Online. Archived from the original on 18 March 2025. Retrieved 1 April 2025.

Works cited

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