1979 Imo State gubernatorial election

The 1979 Imo State gubernatorial election occurred on July 28, 1979, in Nigeria.^[1] NPP's Samuel Onunaka Mbakwe won election for a first term to become Imo State's first executive governor leading and, defeating main opposition, NPN's Collins Obi,^[2] in the contest.^{[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]}

1979 Imo State gubernatorial election

July 28, 1979 1983 →

Nominee Samuel Onunaka Mbakwe Collins Obi Party NPP NPN Running mate Bernard Amalaha

Governor before election Sunday Ajibade Adenihun Nigerian military junta Elected Governor Samuel Mbakwe NPP

Sam Mbakwe emerged winner in the gubernatorial primary election. His running mate was Bernard Amalaha (Amalaha was disqualified after the election and Isaac Uzoigwe was appointed in his stead).^[18][19][20]

President Shehu Shagari In 1979  was handed the new civilian government.^[21]

Electoral system

The Governor of Imo State is elected using the plurality voting system.

Results

There were five political parties registered by the Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO) to participate in the election. Samuel Mbakwe of the NPP won the contest by polling the highest votes,^{[22][23][3][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32]} defeating NPN's Collins Obi.^[2]

Candidate		Party
	Samuel Onunaka Mbakwe	Nigerian People's Party (NPP)
	Collins Obi	National Party of Nigeria (NPN)
	Nwakama Okoro
Total
Source: GARJ,[22] Africa Spectrum[3]