Are you interested In learning about the Individuals who have led Taraba State since its formation in 1991? This guide provides a complete list of governors, from the very first to the current one, Agbu Kefas. You will also learn about the unique case of Jolly Nyame who served two non-consecutive terms.
Complete List Of Past And Current Governors Of Taraba State
Name | Began Tenure | Ended Tenure | Party |
|---|---|---|---|
Adeyemi Afolahan | 28 August 1991 | 2 January 1992 | Military |
Jolly Nyame | 3 January 1992 | 17 November 1993 | SDP |
Yohanna Dickson | 9 December 1993 | 22 August 1996 | Military |
Amen Edore Oyakhire | 22 August 1996 | 16 August 1998 | Military |
Aina Owoniyi | 16 August 1998 | 29 May 1999 | Military |
Jolly Nyame | 29 May 1999 | 29 May 2007 | PDP |
Danbaba Suntai | 29 May 2007 | 29 May 2015 | PDP |
Garba Umar | 14 November 2012 | 21 November 2014 | PDP |
Sani Danladi | 22 November 2014 | 29 May 2015 | PDP |
Darius Ishaku | 29 May 2015 | 29 May 2023 | PDP |
Agbu Kefas | 29 May 2023 | Incumbent | PDP |
Who was The First Taraba State Governor?
The first governor of Taraba State was Jolly Tavoro Nyame. He served as governor twice, first from 1992 to 1993 during the short-lived third republic, and then again from 1999 to 2007.
Nyame was born on December 25, 1955, in Zing, present-day Taraba State, to Christian parents. In 1991, Nyame undertook into politics and contested for the governorship of Taraba State.
SEE ALSO: List Of Governors Of Zamfara State (1996-Present)
He emerged victorious in the 1992 election but his term as governor in 1993 was cut short due to a military takeover of power.
However, he returned to power in 1999 after contesting as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and winning.
Nyame’s popularity and success led to his re-election in 2003, making him the only individual to have won three governorship elections in Taraba State.
Despite his political achievements, Nyame faced legal challenges upon leaving office in 2007. He was charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for a fraud amounting to ₦1.64 billion.
Nyame admitted to misappropriating ₦180 million out of ₦250 million meant for stationery in Taraba State and offered to return the same.
In May 2018, Nyame was convicted by the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, for the charges against him. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison and was ordered to refund the misappropriated funds.
Despite appeals, the Court of Appeal in Abuja affirmed his conviction but reduced his sentence to five separate 12-year terms of imprisonment to run concurrently.
In February 2020, the Supreme Court affirmed the 12-year jail term but set aside the fines imposed on him, deeming them outrageous.
Who Is The Current Governor Of Taraba State?
Agbu Kefas is the current governor of Taraba State, Nigeria since May 29, 2023, succeeding Darius Dickson Ishaku. Born on November 12, 1970, in Wukari, Taraba State, Kefas is a retired Nigerian army lieutenant colonel.
He comes from a family with a military background, as his late brother, Air Commodore Ibrahim Kefas, also served in the armed forces.
SEE ALSO: List Of Governors Of Sokoto State (1967-Present)
Kefas graduated from the Nigerian Defence Academy in Kaduna with a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science and Defense Studies in 1994.
He advanced his studies at the University of Ibadan, where he obtained a Master’s Degree in Legal Criminology & Security Psychology in 2005.
Besides, he earned another Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Delta State University, Abraka, in 2008.
Kefas also holds executive education certifications from institutions like Harvard Kennedy School in the United States. Aside from his military service, Kefas has been involved in politics and public service.
He retired from the Nigerian army after 21 years of service and was appointed as the chairman of the Governing Board of Directors of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) from 2013 to 2015.
He later served as a member of the Presidential Committee on North-East Initiative from 2016 to 2019.
Kefas officially launched his political career, becoming the State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Taraba State in 2020.
In 2022, he contested and won the Taraba State PDP gubernatorial primary election. Afterward, he ran for the office of the Governor of Taraba State in March 2023 under the PDP, emerging victorious in the election.
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