List of governors of Cross River State

Governor of Cross River State
Seal of Cross River State of Nigeria
Flag of Cross River State of Nigeria
Incumbent Bassey Otu since May 2023
Government of Cross River State
Style	Governor (informal) His Excellency or Your Excellency (courtesy) [1]
Member of	Executive Council of Cross River State [2]
Reports to	President of Nigeria
Residence	Government House, Essien
Seat	Calabar
Appointer	Popular vote [2]
Term length	Four years, renewable once consecutively [2]
Constituting instrument	Constitution of Nigeria
Inaugural holder	Clement Isong
Formation	October 1979
Deputy	Deputy governor of Cross River State

Location of Cross River State in Nigeria

Cross River State, located in the South South geopolitical zone of Nigeria, has undergone political changes influenced by colonial rule, military regimes, and democratic transitions. The territory, which was originally under the Eastern Region, was incorporated into the newly created South-Eastern State in 1967 following the dissolution of the regional structure by the military government. ^[a] In 1967, military leader Yakubu Gowon established South-Eastern State from the Eastern Region as part of a broader state creation effort during the Nigerian Civil War. The state remained under military governance until 1979, when Nigeria transitioned briefly to civilian rule. In 1976, South-Eastern State was renamed Cross River State during the nationwide state reorganisation carried out by the Murtala Mohammed administration.

Like other Nigerian states, Cross River State alternated between military administrators and civilian governors until the restoration of democracy in 1999. During the early years of the state, military officers such as Uduokaha Esuene, Paul Omu, and Babatunde Elegbede oversaw its administration. In 1979, Clement Isong of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) became the first elected governor. However, his tenure, along with that of his successor Donald Etiebet, was interrupted by the military coup of December 1983. Subsequent military governors, including Edet Archibong, Dan Archibong, and Ernest Attah, managed the state until another brief return to civilian rule in 1992, which brought Clement Ebri of the National Republican Convention (NRC) into office. Following the annulment of the Third Republic in 1993, military administrators again assumed control, including Ibrahim Kefas, Gregory Agboneni, Umar Farouk Ahmed, and Christopher Osondu.

With the advent of the Fourth Republic in 1999, Cross River State returned to democratic governance, beginning with Donald Duke (1999–2007) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He was succeeded by Liyel Imoke (2007–2015), also of the PDP, followed by Benedict Ayade, who initially won under the PDP but later joined the All Progressives Congress (APC). In 2023, Bassey Otu of the APC was elected governor and is the incumbent.

List of governors

Eastern Region

Before Nigeria's independence in 1960, the territory that now constitutes Cross River State was part of the Eastern Region, one of the country's original administrative divisions. ^[4] During the colonial era, British officials governed the Eastern Region, with Clement Pleass (1954–1956) and Robert Stapledon (1956–1960) serving as governors. After independence, Francis Akanu Ibiam (1960–1966) became the first Nigerian governor of the Eastern Region, while Michael Okpara served as its second premier (1960–1966) succeeding Nnamdi Azikiwe. However, following Nigeria’s first military coup in January 1966, the military abolished the regional system, dismissed civilian premiers, and appointed military administrators, with Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu governing the Eastern Region from January 1966 until its dissolution in May 1967. ^{[4] [5]}

South-Eastern State

Following Nigeria's restructuring under Yakubu Gowon in 1967, the Eastern Region was divided into three new states: East Central State, Rivers State, and South-Eastern State. ^[4] South-Eastern State remained under military administration, with Uduokaha Esuene appointed as its first military governor (1967–1975). After the 1976 state reorganisation under Murtala Mohammed, the state was renamed Cross River State. ^[6]

Military Governors of South-Eastern State

Governor		Term in office	Party
	Udokaha Esuene (b. 1936, d. 1993) [7]	May 1967 – July 1975 [7]		Military governor
—	Paul Omu (b. 1940) [8]	July 1975 – March 1976 [8]

Cross River State

The post-renaming era continued under military rule, with Paul Omu (1976–1978) and Babatunde Elegbede (1978–1979) administering the state. ^{[8] [9]} Civilian rule was established briefly in 1979, bringing Clement Isong (1979–1983) of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) to office, followed by Donald Etiebet in 1983. ^[9] The December 1983 military coup ushered in another era of military control, with leaders such as Edet Archibong (1984), Dan Archibong (1984–1986), and Ernest Attah (1986–1992) governing the state. ^[9] In the short-lived Third Republic, Clement Ebri of the National Republican Convention (NRC) served as governor from 1992 until the military annulled the republic in 1993. Subsequent military administrators included Ibrahim Kefas (1993–1994), Gregory Agboneni (1994–1996), Umar Farouk Ahmed (1996–1998), and Christopher Osondu (1998–1999). ^[9] Under the Fourth Republic, Cross River State has been governed by elected civilian governors, beginning with Donald Duke of the PDP (1999–2007), followed by Liyel Imoke (2007–2015), and then Benedict Ayade (2015–2023). ^[10] Ayade joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2021, leaving the PDP. ^[11] In 2023, Bassey Otu of the APC was elected governor and is the incumbent governor. ^[12]

Heads of the government of Cross River State

Governor		Term in office	Party		Election	D. Governor
—	Paul Omu (b. 1940) [8]	March 1976 – July 1978 [8] [9]		Military governor	—	Office did not exist
—	Babatunde Elegbede (b. 1939, d. 1994) [13]	July 1978 – October 1979 [9]
	Clement Isong (b. 1920, d. 2000) [14]	October 1979 – October 1983 [9]		NPN [9]	1979 [15]	Mathias Ofoboche
—	Donald Etiebet (b. 1934, d. 2015) [16] [17]	October 1983 – December 1983 [9]			1983 [18]	Fidelis Ikogo Nnang
—	Edet Akpan Archibong (b. 1930, d. 2015) [19]	January 1984 – May 1984 [9] [20]		Military governor	—	Office abolished
	Dan Patrick Archibong (b. 1943, d. 1990) [21]	May 1984 – 1986 [9]
—	Eben Ibim Princewill (b. 1946) [22]	1986 – December 1989 [9]
—	Ernest Kizito Attah (b. 1952) [23]	December 1989 – January 1992 [9]
—	Clement David Ebri (b. 1952) [24]	January 1992 – November 1993 [9]		NRC [9] [25]	1991 [26]	Cecilia Ekpeyong [27] [28]
—	Ibrahim Kefas (b. 1948, d. 2021) [29] [30]	December 1993 – September 1994 [9]		Military administrator	—	Office abolished
—	Gregory Agboneni (b. 1948) [31]	September 1994 – August 1996 [9]
—	Umar Farouk Ahmed (b. 1948) [31]	August 1996 – August 1998 [9]
—	Christopher Osondu	August 1998 – May 1999 [9]
—	Donald Duke (b. 1961) [32]	May 1999 – May 2007 [10]		PDP [10]	1999 2003 [33] [34]	John Oyom Okpa (May 1999–May 2003) [35]
						Walter Patrick Eneji (May 2003–May 2007) [28]
—	Liyel Imoke (b. 1961) [36]	May 2007 – May 2015 [10]		PDP [10]	2007 2008 re-run 2012 [37] [38] [39] [b]	Effiok Cobham [40]
	Benedict Ayade (b. 1968) [41]	May 2015 – May 2023 [10]		PDP (May 2015–May 2021) [10] [11]	2015 2019 [42] [c]	Ivara Esu [44]
				APC (May 2021–May 2023) [10] [11]
	Bassey Otu (b. 1959) [12]	May 2023 – Incumbent [10] [12]		APC [10] [12]	2023 [12]	Peter Odey [45]

Explanatory notes

1. Nigeria's regional system of government was a decentralised political structure where the country was divided into autonomous regions—each with its own legislature, executive, and judiciary—allowing them to govern internal affairs and manage resources independently, while still operating under a central federal authority. ^[3]
2. Imoke's election as governor in the 2007 elections was annulled by the Court of Appeal citing irregularities and non-complaince with the 2006 Electoral Act. ^[38]
3. The governor and his deputy joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) in May 2021, leaving PDP. ^{[11] [43]}

See also

• List of governors of Akwa Ibom State
• List of state governors of Nigeria

References

Citations

1. Akinpelu, Olusegun (17 December 2019). "From His Excellency to Mr Governor". This Day . Archived from the original on 27 September 2021. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
2. Article VI, Section II, Constitution of Nigeria, 1999
3. Oluwadele, Boluwatife (27 November 2024). "Thoughts on the proposed regional government in Nigeria". Premium Times . ISSN   2360-7688. Archived from the original on 28 November 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
4. Falola & Genova 2009, p. 103.
5. Yusha'u, Muhammad Jameel (2018). Regional Parallelism and Corruption Scandals in Nigeria: Intranational Approaches to African Media Systems. Springer Publishing. p. 182. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-96220-7. ISBN   978-3-319-96219-1.
6. Akpan 2023, p. 290.
7. "Brigadier General Udokaha Jacob Esuene, 1st Military Governor". Cross River State . Archived from the original on 8 April 2025. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
8. Michael, Okorohohi (1 July 2023). "Oborevwori Felicitates Ex-Military Gov Of Old S'Eastern State, Gen Paul Omu At 83". Independent Nigeria . ISSN   1595-983X. Archived from the original on 8 April 2025. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
9. Akpan 2023, p. 19.
10. Akpan 2023, p. 20.
11. Ukpong, Cletus (29 May 2021). "Cross River Governor, Ben Ayade, dumps PDP, joins APC". Premium Times . ISSN   2360-7688 . Retrieved 10 April 2025.
12. Omoboye, Faith (23 March 2023). "Meet Prince Bassey Otu, gov-elect of Cross River State". BusinessDay . Retrieved 10 April 2025.
13. "Vice Admiral Muftau Babatunde Elegbede, 3rd Military Governor". Cross River State . Archived from the original on 9 April 2025. Retrieved 9 April 2025.
14. Giwa, Kehinde (25 August 2023). "Clement Isong: Remembering Former CBN Governor". News Central TV . Archived from the original on 26 August 2023. Retrieved 9 April 2025.
15. Joseph 1981, p. 22.
16. Nigeria National Assembly Senate (1983). Who is who in the Senate, 1979-1983. Executive Office of the President, Department of Information, Domestic Publicity Division. p. 60. Retrieved 9 April 2025.
17. "Ex-Gov. Donald Etiebet buried". Premium Times (in German). ISSN   2360-7688. Archived from the original on 28 May 2023. Retrieved 9 April 2025.
18. "The once elegant Joseph Wayas". Nigerian Tribune . 14 September 2018. Archived from the original on 9 April 2025. Retrieved 9 April 2025.
19. Ndoma-Egba, Victor (11 December 2015). "A tale of four deaths". Vanguard . ISSN   0794-652X. Archived from the original on 27 June 2017. Retrieved 9 April 2025.
20. Odey, Patrick (16 February 2016). "Late Gov. Edet Akpan for state burial Friday". Daily Trust . Archived from the original on 9 April 2025. Retrieved 9 April 2025.
21. "Brigadier General Dan Archibong, 5th Military Governor". Cross River State . Archived from the original on 9 April 2025. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
22. Osso 1990, p. 696.
23. Osso 1990, p. 308.
24. Osso 1990, p. 442.
25. "When 'll it be turn of youths?". The Nation . 31 January 2016. ISSN   1595-3793. Archived from the original on 3 February 2016. Retrieved 9 April 2025.
26. Oluokun, Ayorinde (5 February 2023). "Cross River governorship poll: Ejagham Federation declares for Bassey Otu". P.M. News . ISSN   2006-7968. Archived from the original on 5 February 2023. Retrieved 9 April 2025.
27. "A torch to Nigerian women: Inspiring life of Cecilia Ekpeyong, Cross River's first female deputy governor". Vanguard . 27 December 2024. ISSN   0794-652X . Retrieved 9 April 2025.
28. Okpo, Efiom (30 November 2021). "Cross River: When there is silence, noise takes over". Premium Times . ISSN   2360-7688 . Retrieved 9 April 2025.
29. Fejokwu 1995, p. 253.
30. Ojonugwa, Aina (2 October 2021). "Ex-Military Administrator Of Delta, Cross River, Ibrahim Kefas Is Dead". The Will . ISSN   2756-5610 . Retrieved 9 April 2025.
31. Fejokwu 1995, p. 233.
32. "Newswatch". Newswatch . 2008. p. 72. ISSN   0189-8892. OCLC   12681315.
33. Valeria Scott (27 May 1999). Report on the Impact of lFES Activities in Nigeria, November 1998 to April 1999 (PDF) (Report). International Foundation for Electoral Systems. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 December 2017. Retrieved 9 April 2025.
34. Nigeria: National Assembly Elections, 12 April 2003, Presidential and Gubernatorial Elections, 19 April 2003, State Houses of Assembly Elections, 03 May 2003 (PDF) (Report). European Union Election Observation Mission. 1999. Retrieved 9 April 2025.
35. Adegbamigbe, Ademola (14 February 2000). "Nigeria: Cross River State Gov And His Deputy Present A United Front". TheNEWS . ISSN   1116-7157.
36. Okogene, Charles (7 July 2011). "Nigeria: Celebrating Liyel Imoke, His Achievements at 50". Independent Nigeria . ISSN   1595-983X.
37. "Liyel Imoke emerges victorious in Cross River elections". Channels TV . 26 February 2012. Retrieved 9 April 2025.
38. Ighodaro, John; Olanrinoye, George; Aziken, Emmanuel (15 July 2008). "Nigeria: Liyel Imoke Sacked". Vanguard . ISSN   0794-652X.
39. "Nigeria ruling party wins fifth state re-run vote". Reuters . 25 August 2008. ISSN   2293-6343 . Retrieved 9 April 2025.
40. "Imoke, Efiks and the coming elections". The Nation . 7 January 2015. ISSN   1595-3793 . Retrieved 9 April 2025.
41. Sunday, Eno-Abasi (7 May 2023). "Cross River State Library …when the governed is denied access to knowledge". The Guardian . ISSN   0189-5125 . Retrieved 9 April 2025.
42. "Guber poll: Tribunal dismisses LP petition in Cross River". The Nation . 3 July 2015. ISSN   1595-3793 . Retrieved 9 April 2025.
43. Bankole, Idowu (24 May 2021). "Ayade's deputy, Ivara Esu joins APC". Vanguard . ISSN   0794-652X . Retrieved 10 April 2025.
44. "Nigeria: Efik Chiefs Denounce Calumny Campaign Against Imoke". This Day . 9 January 2015. Retrieved 10 April 2025– via AllAfrica.
45. Odunsi, Wale (9 August 2022). "APC's Bassey Otu unveils Cross River Assembly leader, Peter Odey as deputy". Daily Post . ISSN   2449-1128 . Retrieved 10 April 2025.

Works cited

• Akpan, Unwana Samuel (15 November 2023). Akwa-Cross People of Nigeria: History, Heritage, and Culture. Lexington Books. ISBN   978-1-6669-3480-9.
• Joseph, Richard A. (1981). "The Ethnic Trap: Notes on the Nigerian Campaign and Elections, 1978–79". Issue: A Journal of Opinion. 11 (1/2). Cambridge University Press: 17–23. doi:10.2307/1166229. ISSN   0047-1607. JSTOR   1166229.
• Osso, Nyaknno (1990). "Who's who in Nigeria". Newswatch . ISBN   978-978-2704-12-2.
• Fejokwu, Law C. (1995). Nigeria, the Military & Political Leadership: A Compendium on the Socio-economic & Development Dynamics. Polcom Press. OCLC   35643343.
• Falola, Toyin; Genova, Ann (2009). Historical Dictionary of Nigeria. Scarecrow Press. ISBN   978-0-8108-5615-8.