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List of governors of Bauchi State
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Bauchi State, located in the northeastern region of Nigeria, has experienced various forms of leadership since Nigeria’s independence in 1960, including both military and civilian administrations. At the time of independence, the territory now known as Bauchi State was part of the Northern Region. In the state reorganization of 1967, the Northern Region was divided into six states, and the area comprising present-day Bauchi became part of the North-Eastern State. The first military governor of the newly created Northeastern state was Brigadier Musa Usman who was replaced in 1975 by Muhammadu Buhari. Bauchi State was created out of the Northeastern state in 1976, and Colonel Mohammed Bello Kaliel was the first military governor from 1976 to 1978. He was succeeded by another military administrator, Garba Duba, during the continued military regimes.
In 1979, democratic rule returned to Nigeria and Abubakar Tatari Ali became the first elected civilian governor of Bauchi State, serving under the National Party of Nigeria (NPN). His administration was cut short in 1983 by a military coup, after which various military governors took charge, including Chris Abutu Garuba, Joshua Madaki and Abu Ali. Between 1992 and 1993, there was a brief democratic government led by Dahiru Mohammed and was later overthrown by James Kalau, an administrator appointed by the General Sani Abacha Government. Hence, military administrators ruled Bauchi State from 1993 up till the handing over of power to the civilian government in 1999.
With the return of democracy in 1999, Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu was elected as the civilian governor of Bauchi State and served two terms from 1999 to 2007 under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). In 2015, Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar of the All Progressives Congress (APC) became governor and served until 2019. Bala Mohammed of the PDP took office in 2019 and was re-elected in 2023 for a second term. He currently serves as the incumbent governor of Bauchi State.
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List of governors of Bauchi State
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Northern Region
At the time of Nigeria's independence in 1960, the country was divided into three regions: the Northern Region, the Western Region, and the Eastern Region. Each region operated under a parliamentary system of government, headed by a Premier, while the ceremonial role of Governor represented the British Crown. Sir Ahmadu Bello served as the first and only Premier of the Northern Region. Under his leadership, the Northern People's Congress (NPC), a political party with its base in the Northern Region, emerged as the dominant political force in the region and [2][3] The NPC also produced Nigeria's first Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa. The party's influence in the North was reinforced by strong regional unity, traditional institutions, and support from religious leaders, particularly within the Islamic establishment. However, Ahmadu Bello was assassinated in the 1966 during the first Nigeria military coup organised by General Aguiyi Ironsi[4][5] Following the assassination of the Major General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi in the July 1966 counter-coup, Lieutenant Colonel Yakubu Gowon became the Head of State. In an effort to reduce regional tensions and prevent secessionist movements, Gowon abolished the existing regional structure in May 1967 and created twelve new states from the former regions. One of these newly created states was the North-Eastern State.[6][7]
Northeastern State
The first Military Governor of the North-Eastern State was Brigadier Musa Usman, who was appointed by General Yakubu Gowon following the creation of the state in 1967. He administered the state from 1967 until 1975.[8] After the bloodless coup of 29 July 1975, which removed Gowon from power and brought General Murtala Muhammad to office, Musa Usman was replaced by Colonel Muhammadu Buhari. Buhari served as the military administrator of the North-Eastern State until February 1976, when Murtala Muhammad was assassinated in a failed coup led by Lieutenant Colonel Bukar Suka Dimka[9][10]
Bauchi State
In 1976, under the military administration of General Murtala Muhammed, the former North-Eastern State was subdivided into three new states: Bauchi, Borno, and Gongola. This restructuring was part of a broader national reform that led to the creation of seven new states, expanding Nigeria's federation from twelve to nineteen states.[12][7][13]
Bauchi State officially came into existence on 3 February 1976. The state’s first military governor was Brigadier General Mohammad Bello Khaliel, who assumed office in March 1976, succeeding Colonel Muhammadu Buhari, the last military administrator of the North-Eastern State. Khaliel served until July 1978, after which Colonel Garba Duba was appointed and served as governor until October 1979, during the military regime of General Olusegun Obasanjo.[14][15][16]
With the return to civilian rule in 1979, Abubakar Tatari Ali became the first elected governor of Bauchi State under the National Party of Nigeria (NPN). His tenure lasted until 1983, when a military coup once again brought the military into power. From 1984 to 1985, Colonel Mohammed Sani Sami served as the military governor of the state.[17][18][19] From 1993 to 1999, Bauchi State was again under military rule with a series of appointed administrators: James Kalau (1993–1994), Rasheed Adisa Raji (1994–1996), Theophilus Bamigboye (1996–1998), and Abdul Mshelia (1998–1999).[20][21]
Democratic governance resumed with the beginning of the Fourth Republic in 1999. Ahmad Adamu Mu'azu of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) served as governor from 1999 to 2007. He was succeeded by Isa Yuguda, initially elected under the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in 2007, but who officially decamped to the PDP in June 2009. Yuguda served two terms until 2015, when Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar of the All Progressives Congress (APC) took office. In 2019, Bala Mohammed of the PDP was elected governor and remains the incumbent as of 2025.[21]
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