All Past Ebonyi State Governors And What They Have Been Up To

Ebonyi State is one of the last states that were created in Nigeria, it was among the six states created by the then military government led by General Sani Abacha in 1996. Truth be told, the state is just like a child getting to its puberty stage even though it has been around for 24 years.

The list of past governors of the state is albeit empty when we remove the military administrators, the question is why so? Well, it is like an unwritten rule that every governor stays in power for two tenures even if they are underperforming, so you have one man staying in power for eight years which narrows the list down. Here are all the past Ebonyi State Governor to date

Walter Feghabo

Navy Commander Walter Feghabo was the first military Administrator of the young Ebonyi State. He was appointed administrator of the state from October 1996 to August 1998.  While he was still the administrator of the state, another coup took place that ushered in the regime of General Abdulsalami Abubakar. 

Feghabo was appointed the administrator of Delta State in August 1998, it was during this time that the transition to a civilian government took place. He handed over to James Ibori, after which he returned to the Navy. 

In June 1999, Walter Feghagbo was retired by the Federal Government including all former military administrators.

Simeon Oduoye

Simeon Olasukanmi Oduoye was the second military administrator for Ebonyi State. He took over from Walter Feghabo in August 1998 till May 1999. He stood out during his service in the state, one of his acts included setting up a committee to restructure the state civil service to ensure order, seniority, observance to rules and regulations. Odupoye’s administration has been described as well organized and orderly.

Before he assumed the position of an administrator during the military regime, Oduoye was enlisted in the police force. After the transition to democracy, he went on to become an Assistant Inspector General of Police. 

Oduoye like his counterparts who held political positions during the military era was retired in 1999.

After his retirement from the force, Oduoye went on to live an active life. He chaired the NSPRI  from 2005 to 2007. He also became active in politics at that time and was elected senator for Osun Central in April 2007 on the (PDP) platform. While in the house he was appointed to committees on Security & Intelligence, Power, Land Transport, Interior Affairs, Drugs Narcotics Anti Corruption, and Air Force.

He was the Chairman and Managing Director of Layo Woodmill Nigeria Ltd till death.

Simeon Oduoye passed away in March 2014. 

Sam Egwu

Sam Ominyi Egwu was the first Civilian Governor of Ebonyi State, he won the 1999 Gubernatorial elections in Ebonyi State. He ran for the elections under the platform of the then ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Nigeria. He was the Governor of Ebonyi State in Nigeria from 29 May 1999 to 29 May 2007.

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After Egwu left office in 2007, the following year he was appointed by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua as the Federal Minister of Education in December 2008. He was also on the committee that reviewed the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. 

Sam Egwu in 2015, ran for the seat of the Ebonyi North Senatorial District and won. He still occupies this seat to date.

Martin Elechi

Before assuming the position of the Governor of Ebonyi, Martin Elechi had led an interesting life. He was the leader of the defunct Ebonyi State Movement, agitating for the creation of Ebonyi State for more than a decade. In the old East-Central State, Elechi served in several capacities: 

Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Urban Development; Commissioner for Trade and Industry; and Commissioner for Works and Housing – spanning the period between 1970 and 1975. He was chairman or member of numerous Boards, Commissions, and Parastatals.

He was a member of the defunct Constituent Assembly of Nigeria, representing Abakaliki/Ikwo Constituency between 1977 and 1978, and was the Executive Secretary of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) between 1980 and 1982. In January 2003, he was a member of the Committee on the Presidential Primaries of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). 

Chief Martin Elechi finally became the Governor of Ebonyi State from 29 May 2007 to 29 May 2015.

After he left office in 2015, Elechi left the People’s Democratic Party for the All Progressive Congress. It is assumed that the former governor has gone into retirement as he is far above 80 years.

As a fairly young state, the list of past governors is scanty but we look forward to updating the list as tenures come and go.

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