Did You Know? Kaduna State’s Capital City is Named After Crocodiles. However, this comprehensive guide provides a historical overview of the governors who have led Kaduna State, Nigeria, from its creation in 1977 to the present day.
It looks at the tenure, party affiliation, and brief biographical information of the first, and the current governor, offering a valuable resource for anyone interested in Kaduna State’s political history.
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Complete List Of Past And Current Governors Of Kaduna State
Name | Began Tenure | Ended Tenure | Party |
|---|---|---|---|
Muktar Muhammed | 1977 | July 1978 | Military |
Ibrahim Mahmud Alfa | July 1978 | October 1979 | Military |
Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa | October 1979 | 23 June 1981 | PRP |
Abba Musa Rimi | 6 July 1981 | October 1983 | PRP |
Lawal Kaita | October 1983 | December 1983 | NPN |
Usman Mu'azu | January 1984 | August 1985 | Military |
Dangiwa Umar | August 1985 | June 1988 | Military |
Abdullahi Sarki Mukhtar | July 1988 | August 1990 | Military |
Abubakar Tanko Ayuba | August 1990 | 2 January 1992 | Military |
Mohammed Dabo Lere | 2 January 1992 | November 1993 | NRC |
Lawal Jafaru Isa | 9 December 1993 | 22 August 1996 | Military |
Hammed Ali | 22 August 1996 | August 1998 | Military |
Umar Farouk Ahmed | August 1998 | 29 May 1999 | Military |
Ahmed Makarfi | 29 May 1999 | 29 May 2007 | PDP |
Mohammed Namadi Sambo | 29 May 2007 | 19 May 2010 | PDP |
Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa | 20 May 2010 | 15 December 2012 | PDP |
Mukhtar Ramalan Yero | 15 December 2012 | 29 May 2015 | PDP |
Nasiru Ahmed El-Rufai | 29 May 2015 | 29 May 2023 | APC |
Uba Sani | 29 May 2023 | Incumbent | APC |
Who Was The First Governor Of Kaduna State?
The first governor of Kaduna State was Air Vice-Marshal Muktar Muhammed, who served from 1977 to July 1978. Born on November 11, 1944, in Kano, Muktar Muhammed had an outstanding military career, serving in the Nigerian Air Force with the rank of Air Vice-Marshal.
Muhammed’s tenure as governor came during a period of military rule in Nigeria, under the leadership of General Olusegun Obasanjo.
He assumed office after Usman Jibrin and was succeeded by Ibrahim Mahmud Alfa. Muhammed played a significant role in the coup that brought General Murtala Mohammed to power in 1975.
His active participation led to his appointment to the new Supreme Military Council in July 1975. During his time as governor, Muhammed worked to govern Kaduna State effectively.
He was promoted to the rank of Group Captain while serving as governor. After retiring from the Nigerian Air Force, Muhammed continued to contribute to society until his passing on October 1, 2017, at the age of 72.
Muktar Muhammed’s leadership as the first governor of Kaduna State laid the foundation for the governance of the state.
His military background and experience in public service provided him with the skills necessary to move through the challenges of leading a state during a time of political transition in Nigeria.
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Who Is The Current Governor Of Kaduna State?
The current governor of Kaduna State is Uba Sani, who assumed office on May 29, 2023. Sani served as a senator representing the Kaduna Central senatorial district from 2019 to 2023.
Born on December 31, 1970, in Zaria, Kaduna State, he is an engineer by profession. Sani holds a Master of Science degree in Finance from the University of Calabar and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Business Administration from the University of Abuja.
In addition to his engineering background, Sani has been active in politics since the return of democracy to Nigeria in 1999.
He supported the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, and was appointed as a Special Advisor on public affairs to the president after Obasanjo’s election victory.
Sani also worked in advisory roles at the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) under Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, who later became the governor of Kaduna State.
Sani’s political career continued as he contested for the Kaduna Central senatorial seat in 2011 and later in 2019 under the All Progressives Congress (APC), winning the seat during the February 2019 Nigeria general elections.
In 2022, he obtained APC nomination forms for the 2023 governorship election in Kaduna State, eventually becoming the governor.
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Who Is The Current Deputy Governor Of Kaduna State?
The current Deputy Governor of Kaduna State is Hadiza Balarabe, having been In office since May 29, 2019, alongside Governor Nasir el-Rufai, who served from 2019 to 2023, and currently serves under Governor Uba Sani, who took office in 2023.
Hadiza Balarabe succeeded Barnabas Bala in the role. Born on August 26, 1966, in Sanga, Northern Region (now in Kaduna State), Nigeria, Hadiza Balarabe is a member of the All Progressive Congress party.
She attended the University of Maiduguri and is also a medical doctor by profession.
Hadiza Balarabe is the first female deputy governor of Kaduna State.
She was elected during the 2019 Nigerian gubernatorial elections and was re-elected in 2023.
In October 2019, she made another significant milestone by presenting the Kaduna State Government’s 2020 Budget of Renewal to the Kaduna State House of Assembly, becoming the first woman to do so in Northern Nigeria.
Despite her achievements, Balarabe faced challenges when she contemplated running for the position of governor during the 2023 general election.
However, she withdrew from the race and was selected as the running mate to the APC consensus candidate, Senator Uba Sani. In March 2023, she was re-elected as the deputy governor, continuing her service to the people of Kaduna State.