Muslin and Christian Governors in Nigerian North-Eastern states (1967-2015) State Governor/Administr Affiliatio Ethnic group / Religion Head of State Deputy Ethnic group / Religion ator n LGA (Federal) governor LGA 1) Brig. Musa Usman Military n.a. Muslim Gen. Yakubu n.a. n.a. n.a. North- (Apr 1968–Jul 1975 Gowon East State Muhammadu Buhari Military Fulani/Daura Muslim Gen. Murtala n.a. n.a. n.a. (created (Jul 1975 – Mar (Katsina State) Mohammed in May 1976) 1967 from the Northern Region. 2) Mohammed Jega Military Hausa/Jega Muslim Gen. Olusegun n.a. n.a. n.a. Adamaw (Mar 1976 – Jul (Kebbi State) Obasanjo a State 1978) (formerly Abdul Rahman Military n.a. Muslim Gen. Olusegun n.a. n.a. n.a. Gongola; Mamudu (Jul 1978 – Obasanjo created Oct 1979) out of Gongola and Abubakar Barde (Oct GNPP Mumuye/Jalingo Muslim Shehu Shagari Wilberforce Bachama/Numa Christian renamed 1979 – Oct 1983) (Taraba State) (NPN) Juta n (Adamawa Adamaw State) a in Wilberforce Juta (Oct GNPP Bachama/Numa Christian Shehu Shagari Bello Jidda Fulani/Fufore Muslim 1991) 1983) n (Adamawa (NPN) (Adamawa State) State) Bamanga Tukur (Oct NPN Fulani/Yola Muslim Shehu Shagari David Barau n.a. Christian 1983 – Dec 1983) North (NPN) (Adamawa State) Mohammed Jega (Jan Military Hausa/Jega Muslim Gen. n.a. n.a. n.a. 1984 – Aug 1985) (Kebbi State) Muhammadu Buhari Yohanna Madaki Military Atyap/Zangon Christian Gen. Ibrahim n.a. n.a. n.a. (Aug 1985 – Aug Kataf (Kaduna Babangida 1986) State) Jonah David Jang Military Berom/Jos Christian Gen. Ibrahim n.a. n.a. n.a. (Aug 1986 – Dec South (Plateau Babangida 1989) State) Isah Mohammed Military n.a. Muslim Gen. Ibrahim n.a. n.a. n.a. (Dec 1987 – Dec Babangida 1989) Abubakar Salihu Military n.a. Muslim Gen. Ibrahim Abbo Jimeta n.a. Muslim (Dec 1989 – Jan Babangida 1992) Abubakar Saleh NRC Kanmue/Michik Muslim Gen. Ibrahim Lynn Nathan Bachama/Numa Christian Michika (Jan 1992 – a (Adamawa Babangida n (Adamawa Nov 1993) State) State) Gregory Agboneni Military n.a. Christian Gen. Sani n.a. n.a. n.a. (Dec 1993 – Sep Abacha 1994) Mustapha Ismail (Sep Military n.a. Muslim Gen. Sani n.a. n.a. n.a. 1994 – Aug 1996) Abacha Joe A. Kalu-Igboama Military n.a. Christian Gen. Sani n.a. n.a. n.a. (Aug 1996 – Aug Abacha 1998) Ahmadu G. Husseni Military n.a. Muslim Gen. n.a. n.a. n.a. (Aug 1998 – May Abdulsalami 1999) Abubakar Boni Haruna (May ANPP Kanmue/Michik Christian Olusegun Bello Tukur Fulani/Girei Muslim 1999 – May 2007) (re- a (Adamawa Obasanjo (Adamawa elected in State) (PDP) State) 2003) Murtala Nyako (Apr PDP Fulani/Mayo- Muslim Umaru James Bala Marghi/Madagal Christian 2007 – Jul 2014) Belwa Yar’Adua Ngillari i (Adamawa (Adamawa (PDP); State) State) Goodluck Jonathan (PDP) James Shaibu Barka PDP Kilba/Hong Christian Umaru n.a. n.a. n.a. (acting Feb 2008 – (Adamawa Yar’Adua April 2008) State) (PDP) Ahmadu Umaru Fitiri PDP Fulani/Madagali Muslim Goodluck n.a. n.a. n.a. (acting Jul 2014 – (Adamawa Jonathan (PDP) Oct 2014) State) James Bala Ngillari PDP Marghi/Madagal Christian Goodluck Sa’ad M.C. Fulani/n.a. Muslim (Oct 2014 – May i (Adamawa Jonathan (PDP) Tahir 2015) State) Mohammed Jibrilla APC Fali/Mubi Muslim Muhammadu Martin Chamba/Ganye Christian Bindow (May 2015– (Adamawa Buhari (APC) Baballe (Adamawa State) State) 3) Muhammadu Buhari Military Fulani/Daura Muslim Gen. Murtala n.a. n.a. n.a. Borno (Mar 1976) (Katsina State) Muhammad State (created Mustapha A. Amin Military n.a. Muslim Gen. Olusegun n.a. n.a. n.a. (Mar 1976 – Jul Obasanjo February 1976 1979) from Tunde Idiagbon (Jul Military Yoruba/Ilorin Muslim Gen. Olusegun n.a. n.a. n.a. North- 1978 – Oct 1979) (Kwara State) Obasanjo Eastern State) Mohammed Goni GNPP Kanuri/n.a. Muslim Shehu Shagari Ibrahim Bura/Biu (Borno Muslim (Oct 1979 – Oct (Northern Borno (NPN) Anas State) 1983) State) Asheikh Jarma (Oct NPN Shuwa Muslim Gen. Umaru Bura/Biu (Borno n.a. 1983 – Dec 1983) Arab/Marte Muhammadu Sanda Birma State) (Borno State) Buhari Abubakar Waziri (Jan Military Bolewa/Fika Muslim Gen. Ibrahim n.a. n.a. n.a. 1984 – Aug 1985) (Yobe State) Babangida Abdul Mumini Military Fulani/n.a. Muslim Gen. Ibrahim n.a. n.a. n.a. Aminu (Aug 1985 – (Katsina State) Babangida Dec 1987) Abdu One Military n.a. Muslim Gen. Ibrahim n.a. n.a. n.a. Mohammed (Dec Babangida 1987 – Dec 1989) Mohammed Maina Military n.a. Muslim Gen. Ibrahim Mustafa Kanuri/n.a. Muslim (Dec 1989 – Jun Babangida Umara 1990) Mohammed Buba Military Kanmue/Michik Muslim Gen. Ibrahim Mustafa Kanuri/n.a. Muslim Marwa (Jan 1990 – a (Adamawa Babangida Umara Jan 1992) State) Maina Ma’aji Lawan SDP Kanuri/Kukawa Muslim Gen. Ibrahim Mohammed Bura/Biu (Borno Muslim (Jan 1992 – Nov (Borno State) Babangida Hassan State) 1993) Ibrahim Dada (Dec Military n.a. Muslim Gen. Sani n.a. n.a. n.a. 1993 – Aug 1996) Abacha Victor A . Ozodinobi Military Igbo/n.a. Christian Gen. Sani n.a. n.a. n.a. (Aug 1996 – Abacha February 1997) Augustine Aniebo Military Igbo/Orumba Christian Gen. Sani n.a. n.a. n.a. (February 1997 to South (Anambra Abacha August 1998) State) Lawal Ningi Haruna Military Fulani/Ningi n.a. Gen. n.a. n.a. n.a. (Aug 1998 – May (Bauchi State) Abdulsalami 1999) Abubakar Mala Kachalla (May APP Kanuri/Maidugu Muslim Olusegun Abubakar Bura/Hawul Muslim 1999 – May 2003) ri Metropolitan Obasanjo Jatau (Borno State) Council (Borno (PDP) State) Ali Modu Sheriff ANPP Kanuri/Ngala Muslim Olusegun Shettima Bura/Hawul Muslim (May 2003 – May (Borno State) Obasanjo Dibal (Borno State) 2011) (PDP) Kashim Shettima ANPP Kanuri/Maidugu Muslim Muhammadu Zannah Bura/Biu (Borno Muslim; (May 2011. Relected APC ri Metropolitan Buhari (APC) Umaru State); n.a. in May 2015) Council (Borno Mustapha; Bura/Hawul State) Usman (Borno State) Mamman Durkwa 4) Mohammed Bello Military n.a./n.a. (Kebbi Muslim Gen. Olusegun n.a. n.a. n.a. Bauchi Kaliel (Mar 1976 – State) Obasanjo State Jul 1978) (created Garba Duba (Jul Military Hausa/Kontagor Muslim Gen. Olusegun n.a. n.a. n.a. in March 1978 – Oct 1979) a (Niger State) Obasanjo 1976 from part of North- Abubakar Tatari Ali NPN Hausa/Bauchi Muslim Shehu Shagari Adamu Fulani/Tafawa Muslim Eastern (Oct 1979 – Dec (Bauchi State) (NPN) Tafawa Balewa (Bauchi State 1993) Balewa State) Mohammed Sani Military Hausa/Zuru Muslim Gen. n.a. n.a. n.a. Sami (Jan 1983 – (Kebbi State) Muhammadu Aug 1985) Buhari Chris Garuba (Aug Military Idoma/Otukpo Christian Gen. Ibrahim n.a. n.a. n.a. 1985 – Dec 1987) (Benue State) Babangida Joshua Madaki (Dec Military Kaura/Kaduna Muslim Gen. Ibrahim n.a. n.a. n.a. 1987 – Aug 1990) North (Kaduna Babangida State) Abu Ali (Aug 1990 – Military n.a. n.a. Gen. Ibrahim Shehu Wunti Hausa/Bauchi Muslim Jan 1992) Babangida (Bauchi State) Dahiru Mohammed NRC n.a./Yamaltu- Muslim Gen. Ibrahim Umaru n.a. Muslim (Jan 1992 – Nov Deba (Gombe Babangida Ahmed 1993) State) James Kalau (Dec Military Kibaku/Chibok Christian Gen. Sani n.a. n.a. n.a. 1993 – Sep 1994) (Borno State) Abacha Rasheed Adisa Raji Military Yoruba/Abeokut Muslim Gen. Sani n.a. n.a. n.a. (Sep 1994 – Aug a (Ogun State) Abacha 1996) Theophilus Military Yoruba/Irepodu Christian Gen. Sani n.a. n.a. n.a. Bamigboye (Aug n (Kwara State) Abacha 1996 – Aug 1998) Abdul Mshelia (Aug Military Bura/Hawul Muslim Gen. n.a. n.a. n.a. 1998 – May 1999) (Borno State) Abdulsalami Abubakar Adamu Muazu (May PDP Fulani/Tafawa Muslim Olusegun Abdulmalik Hausa/Itas Muslim 1999 – May 2007) Balewa (Bauchi Obasanjo Mahmood Gadau (Bauchi State) (PDP) State) Isa Yuguda (May ANPP Fulani/Bauchi Muslim Umaru Muhammadu Hausa/Katagum Muslim 2007 – May 2011) PDP (Bauchi State) Yar’Adua Garba Gadi; (Bauchi State); (PDP); Babayo n.a./Gamawa Goodluck Garba (Bauchi State) Jonathan (PDP) Gamawa Mohammed APC Hausa/Bauchi Muslim Muhammadu Nuhu Fulani/Jama’are n.a. Abdullahi Abubakar (Bauchi State) Buhari (APC) Gidado (Bauchi State) (May 2015–) 5) Adeyemi Ambrose Military Yoruba/Ibadan Christian Gen. Ibrahim n.a. n.a. n.a. Taraba Afolahan (Aug 1991 (Oyo State) Babangida State – Jan 1992) (created August Jolly Nyame (Jan NRC Mumuye/Zing Christian Gen. Ibrahim Samuel Jukun/Wukari Christian 1991 1992 – Nov 1993) (Taraba State) Babangida Danjuma (Taraba State) from part Gani of Yohanna Dickson Military n.a./n.a. Christian Gen. Sani n.a. n.a. n.a. Gongola) (Dec 1993 – Aug (Kaduna State) Abacha 1996) Amen Oyakhire (Aug Military n.a./n.a. (Edo Christian Gen. Sani n.a. n.a. n.a. 1996 – Aug 1998) State) Abacha Aina Joseph Owoniyi Military n.a. Christian Gen. n.a. n.a. n.a. (Aug 1998 – May Abdulsalami 1999) Abubakar Jolly Nyame (May PDP Mumuye/Zing Christian Olusegun Saleh Usman Hausa/Ibi Muslim; 1999 – May 2007) (Taraba State) Obasanjo Danboyi (Taraba State); Muslim; (PDP) (1999– n.a./Donga n.a. 2003); Uba (Taraba State); Maigari; n.a. Armaya’u Dauda Abubakar Danbaba Suntai (May PDP Bali/Bali Christian Umaru Sani Wurkum/Karim Muslim; 2007 – Nov 2012) (Taraba State) Yar’Adua Abubakar Lamido (Taraba Muslim (PDP); Danladi; State); Goodluck Garba Umar Wurkum/Karim Jonathan (PDP) Lamido (Taraba State) Garba Umar (acting PDP n.a. Muslim Goodluck n.a. n.a. n.a. Nov 2012 – 2013) Jonathan (PDP) Sani Abubakar PDP n.a. Muslim Goodluck n.a. n.a. n.a. Danladi (acting 2013 Jonathan (PDP) – May 2015) Darius Dickson PDP Jukun/Takum Christian Muhammadu Haruna Hausa- Muslim Ishaku (May 2015–) (Taraba State) Buhari (APC) Manu Fulani/Gassol (Taraba State) 6) Sanni Daura Ahmed Military n.a.