Kogi State is a state in the North Central region of Nigeria, bordered to the west by the states of Ekiti and Kwara, to the north by the Federal Capital Territory, to the northeast by Nasarawa State, to the northwest by Niger State, to the southwest by the Edo and Ondo states, to the southeast by the states of Anambra and Enugu, and to the east by Benue State. It is the only state in Nigeria to border ten other states. Named for the Hausa word for river (Kogi). Kogi State was formed from parts of Benue State, Niger State, and Kwara State on 27 August 1991. The state is nicknamed the "Confluence State" due to the fact that the confluence of the River Niger and the River Benue occurs next to its capital, Lokoja.
Ibrahim Idris is a Nigeria politician and businessman who served as the governor of Kogi State from 2003 to 2008 and from 2008 to 2012. He is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Idris was succeeded by his brother-in-law Captain Idris Wada, who won election in December 2011 and took office in January 2012.
Prince Abubakar Audu was a Nigerian career banker and politician who was the first civilian governor of Kogi State. He ruled Kogi State twice. His first tenure was from January 1992 until November 1993 and the second from 29 May 1999 to 29 May 2003. He died due to a bleeding ulcer before the announcement of the election results on 22 November 2015, while seeking to be re-elected as governor on the platform of Nigeria's ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC).
Nicholas Ugbane is a Nigerian banker and politician. He was in the Senate of Nigeria between 2003 and 2011 and was the Senator for the Kogi East Senatorial District of Kogi State. He is a member of the People's Democratic Party (PDP). Prior to his senatorial career, Ugbane was the managing director Republic Bank Limited and Honourable Commissioner for: Education, Youth and Sports, Ministry of Commerce and Agriculture and Natural resources.
Ahmed Tijani Ahmed was a Nigerian politician who was Senator for the Kogi Central constituency in Kogi State from 1999 to 2003 as a member of the People's Democratic Party (PDP).
Colonel Ahmed Usman was a Nigerian military administrator of Ondo State and later Oyo State during the military regime of General Sani Abacha.
Augustine Aniebo is a retired Nigerian army brigadier general who served as military administrator of Borno State from 1997 to 1998 during the regime of General Sani Abacha and administrator of Kogi State from 1998 to 1999 during the regime of General Abdulsalami Abubakar, handing over to the elected civilian governor Abubakar Audu on 29 May 1999, at the start of the Fourth Republic.
Emmanuel Dangana Ocheja is a Nigerian Senator who represented Kogi East senatorial district in the National Assembly, and a member of the All Progressives Congress.
Yahaya Adoza Bello is a Nigerian businessman and politician who served as the governor of Kogi State from 2016 to 2024. A member of the All Progressives Congress, Bello was the youngest governor in Nigeria throughout his term in office.
The 2015 Kogi State Gubernatorial election was held on 21 November 2015 to elect a governor for Kogi State. The last Kogi state gubernatorial election was held in 2011. The incumbent governor, Captain Idris Wada, ran for re-election against the former governor, Prince Abubakar Audu, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress. Kogi State has a different governorship election calendar from other states of the Nigerian Federation. This happened in 2007, when the Appeal Court affirmed annulment of the election of the incumbent, Ibrahim Idris for electoral irregularities and ordered a fresh election in a case filed by Abubakar Audu.
Abiodun James Faleke born is a business management and logistic consultant. He is a politician and a member of Nigeria’s House of Representatives from commercial hub city of Lagos. In his early career, Faleke worked in senior managerial positions with several high profile companies. He was with Aluminium Manufacturing Company of Nigeria (ALUMCO) PLC as Purchasing Manager and in early 2000, he moved his services to Crown Agents Ltd as Commercial Manager.
Edward David Onoja is a Nigerian politician who served as the deputy governor of Kogi State from 2019 to 2024. He was chief of staff to the governor of Kogi State from January 2016 to October 2019 when he assumed office as deputy governor.
Oludoyi Julius Juwon is a Nigerian business man, realtor, auto dealer and investor. In 2017, He was the youngest ever in the history of Kogi state to occupy the position of the Special Adviser; Office of the Executive Chairman, Kogi State Universal Basic Education. He currently runs an auto dealership company, Mr. Jay Autos LLC.
Nasir Ajana was a Nigerian judge who served as the Chief Judge of Kogi State.
The 2019 Kogi State gubernatorial election occurred on 16 November 2019. Incumbent APC Governor Yahaya Bello won re-election for a second term, defeating PDP Musa Wada and several minor party candidates.
The 2023 Kogi State gubernatorial election was held on 11 November 2023 to elect the Governor of Kogi State. Incumbent APC Governor Yahaya Bello was term-limited and could not seek re-election to a third term in office. The primaries were scheduled for between 27 March and 17 April 2022.
In the Federal Republic of Nigeria, state executive councils are the highest formal governmental body in state governments headed by governors.
The 2023 Nigerian Senate elections in Kogi State were held on 25 February 2023, to elect the 3 federal Senators from Kogi State, one from each of the state's three senatorial districts. The elections coincided with the 2023 presidential election, as well as other elections to the Senate and elections to the House of Representatives; with state elections being held two weeks later. Primaries were held between 4 April and 9 June 2022.
