Elected state governors who came to power on May 29, 1999, and won their second term bid left office on May 29, 2007, by handing over to their successors.
The only ones that that returned were those that unseat the incumbent in 2003, for instance, Gbenga Daniel of Ogun state and Olagunsoye Oyinlola of Osun state (he later had his election overturned by the court).
Interestingly, it was a time when the two major political parties AC and ANPP underwent restructuring.
During the period, Ali Modu Sheriff, one of the governors who won election in 2003 returned for a second term. There were more first-term governors than returning governors during this time.
So…
Who were the state governors in Nigeria between 2007 to 2011?
| State | Governor | Date of Assumption of office | Political Party |
| Abia | Theodore Orji | May 29, 2007 | PDP |
| Anambra | Peter Obi | March 17, 2006, after the court nullified the election of Chris Ngige of PDP | APGA |
| Adamawa | Murtala Nyako | May 29, 2007. His election was nullified in February 2008 by the Election Petition Appeal Tribunal. In a new election, he won again and assumed office again on April 29, 2008 | PDP |
| Akwa Ibom | Godswill Akpabio | May 29, 2007 | PDP |
| Borno | Ali Modu Sheriff | May 29, 2003. Second term | ANPP |
| Bauchi | Isa Yuguda | May 29, 2007 (First term) | ANPP |
| Bayelsa | Timipre Sylva | May 29, 2007. Election nullification on April 15, 2008, but he was reelected 24 May 2008 | PDP |
| Benue | Gabriel Suswam | May 29, 2007 | PDP |
| Cross River | Liyel Imoke | May 29, 2007 | PDP |
| Delta | Emmanuel Uduaghan | May 29, 2007. His election was annulled on November 9, 2010, but reelected on January 6, 2011 | PDP |
| Ekiti | Olusegun Oni Kayode Fayemi | Segun Oni ruled from May 29, 2007, till October 15, 2010, when his election was nullified. Fayemi ruled from October 15, 2010, till 2014 | PDP AC |
| Edo | Oserheimen Osunbor Adams Oshiomle | Osunbor assumed office on May 29, 2007, till March 20, 2008 Oshiomle Assumed office on March 20, 2008 | PDP AC |
| Enugu | Sullivan Chime | May 29, 2007 (first term) | PDP |
| Ebonyi | Martin Elechi | May 29, 2007 (first term) | PDP |
| Gombe | Mohammed Danjuma Goje | May 29, 2003 (on a second term) | PDP |
| Jigawa | Sule Lamido | May 29, 2007 (first term) | PDP |
| Imo | Ikedi Ohakim | May 29, 2007 | PPA to PDP |
| Kaduna | Namadi Sambo Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa | May 29, 2007, was appointed Vice President on May 19, 2010 by Goodluck Jonathan. Jonathan had assumed office as the president following the death of his boss Umar Yar’Adua on May 5, 2010 Yakowa (deputy governor) assumed office on May 20, 2010 | PDP |
| Katsina | Ibrahim Shema | May 29, 2007 (first term) | PDP |
| Kebbi | Usman Saidu Nasamu Dakingari | May 29, 2007 | PDP |
| Kano | Ibrahim Shekarau | May 29, 2003 (ruled for 8 years) | ANPP |
| Kwara | Bukola Saraki | May 29, 2003 (he ruled for 8 years) | PDP |
| Kogi | Ibrahim Idris | May 29, 2003 (on a second term) | PDP |
| Lagos | Babatunde Fashola | May 29, 2007 (first term) | AC |
| Nasarawa | Aliyu Doma | May 29, 2007 (first term) | PDP |
| Niger | Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu | May 29, 2007 (first term) | PDP |
| Ogun | Gbenga Daniel | May 29, 2003 (on a second term) | PDP |
| Osun | Olagunsoye Oyinlola Rauf Aregbesola | May 29, 2003, till November 26, 2010. His election was nullified Aregbesola assumed office on November 26, 2010 | PDP AC |
| Ondo | Olusegun Agagu Olusegun Mimiko | Agagu was in office from May 29, 2003, till February 23, 2009 (His election was annulled) Mimiko took over from February 23, 2009 | PDP LP |
| Oyo | Christopher Alao-Akala | May 29, 2007 | PDP |
| Plateau | Jonah David Jang | May 29, 2007 | PDP |
| Rivers | Celestine Omehia Rotimi Amaechi | Omehia (May 29, 2007, till October 25, 2007), the court nullified his election as not being the legitimate PDP canididate Amaechi (October 25, 2007) | PDP |
| Sokoto | Aliyu Wamakko | May 29, 2007 | PDP |
| Taraba | Danbaba Suntai | May 29, 2007 | PDP |
| Yobe | Mamman Bello Ali Ibrahim Gaidam | May 29, 2007, to January 26, 2009 (died in office) January 26, 2009 (he was deputy but was sworn in after the death of his boss) | ANPP |
| Zamfara | Mahmud Shinkafi | ANPP to PDP |
Since Nigeria returned to democratic rule, the country experienced the highest number of state governorship elections that were overturned by the court.
Credit
Featured image by The Whistler
