| Governor of Bauchi State | |
|---|---|
 Seal of Bauchi State of Nigeria | |
since 29 May 2019 | |
| Government of Bauchi State | |
| Style |
|
| Type | Head of state Head of government |
| Reports to | President of Nigeria |
| Seat | Bauchi |
| Appointer | Popular vote[1] |
| Term length | Four years, renewable once consecutively[1] |
| Constituting instrument | Constitution of Nigeria |
| Formation | 3 February 1976 |
Bauchi State, located in theNorth East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, has experienced various forms of leadership sinceNigeria'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 theNorthern 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 theNorth-Eastern State. The first military governor of the newly created Northeastern state was BrigadierMusa Usman, who was replaced in 1975 byMuhammadu Buhari. Bauchi State was created out of the Northeastern state in 1976, and ColonelMohammed 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,Abubakar Tatari Ali became the first elected civilian governor of Bauchi State, serving under theNational Party of Nigeria (NPN). His administration was cut short in 1983 by a military coup, after which various military governors took charge, includingChris Abutu Garuba,Joshua Madaki and Abu Ali. Between 1992 and 1993, there was a brief democratic government led byDahiru Mohammed of theNational Republican Convention (NRC), which was later overthrown byJames Kalau, an administrator appointed by the GeneralSani Abacha Government. Hence, military administrators ruled Bauchi State from 1993 up to 1999.
In 1999,Ahmadu Adamu Mu'azu was elected as the civilian governor of Bauchi State and served two terms from 1999 to 2007 under thePeople's Democratic Party (PDP). In 2015,Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar of theAll 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.
At the time of Nigeria's independence in 1960, the country was divided into three regions: theNorthern Region, theWestern Region, and theEastern Region.[2] SirAhmadu Bello served as the first Premier of the Northern Region under the Northern People's Congress (NPC).[3][4] Ahmadu Bello was assassinated in the 1966 duringthe first Nigeria military coup organised by GeneralAguiyi Ironsi.[5][6] Also, Major General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi was assassinated inJuly 1966 counter-coup, and Lieutenant ColonelYakubu Gowon became the Head of State.[7] He 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.[7][2]
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.[8]He administered the state from 1967 until 1975. After the bloodless coup of 29 July 1975, which removed Gowon from power and brought GeneralMurtala Muhammad to office, Musa Usman was replaced by Colonel Muhammadu Buhari[8][9] 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 ColonelBukar Suka Dimka.[10]
| Portrait | Name | Title | Term in office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Musa Usman (1940–1991)[8] | Military governor | May 1967 – July 1975[8] | The first military governor after the July 1967 Coup[8] |
 | Muhammadu Buhari (1942–2025)[11] | Military governor | July 1975 – February 1976[11] | The last military governor of the Northeastern region[11] |
In 1976, under the military administration of General Murtala Muhammed, the former North-Eastern State was subdivided into three new states: Bauchi,Borno, andGongola.[12][13]
Bauchi state officially came into existence on 3 February 1976.[7] The state's first military governor was Brigadier GeneralMohammad 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 ColonelGarba Duba was appointed and served as governor until October 1979, during the military regime of GeneralOlusegun Obasanjo.[14]
In 1979, Abubakar Tatari Ali was elected as the governor of Bauchi State under National Party of Nigeria and his tenure lasted till 1983.[15][16] From 1984 to 1985, ColonelMohammed Sani Sami served as the military governor of the state.[17]Abu Ali, a military governor, was appointed in 1990 and handed over to a democratic governor in 1992.[18][19] Bauchi State was under the democratic rule ofDahiru Mohammed for just a year before power was handed over to another military governor in 1993.[19]From 1993 to 1999, Bauchi State was under military rule, with a series of appointed administrators:James Kalau (1993–1994),[20]Rasheed Adisa Raji (1994–1996),[21]Theophilus Bamigboye (1996–1998), andAbdul Mshelia.[22][23]
In 1999, Ahmad Adamu Mu'azu of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) served as governor till 2007.[24]He was succeeded by Isa Yuguda, initially elected under theAll Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in 2007, but who officially decamped to the PDP in June 2009.[25][26] 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.[27]
