The 8 Abusites Currently Serving as State Governors in Nigeria [2019-2023]

Ahmadu Bello University has produced more state governors in Nigeria than any other two Universities put together. A staggering 37 from 1999 to 2017. There are eight Abusites currently serving as state governors in Nigeria. TheAbusites.com has put together a brief profile of each of them. Read below

#1. DARIUS DICKSON ISHAKU [TARABA]

Darius Dickson Ishaku,  FNIA , NITP is a Nigerian architect, urban planner, university lecturer, politician and distinguished Abusite who is the Governor of Taraba State

Ishaku was born on 30 July 1954 at Lupwe in Ussa Local Government Area of Taraba State. He attended St Bartholomew’s Primary school, Wusasa,  Zaria from 1961 to 1967.

He then proceeded to famous St. Paul’s College Kufena, Zaria, for his secondary education graduating in 1972. He secured admission into the school of basic studies in prestigious ABU Zaria, in the same year for his advance Level education and he passed out in 1974

He proceeded to the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) where he studied and obtained a Bachelor’s and a master’s degree in Architecture, and an additional master’s degree in Urban and regional planning.

Ishaku was previously the supervising minister for power, supervising minister for environment, and the Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs before he resigned to contest in the 2015 Taraba State gubernatorial election.

Darius won the 2015 election and was sworn in on May 29th the same year. He was re-elected for his second run in March 2019.

---

#2. SIMON LALONG [PLATEAU]

Simon Lalong is a Nigerian lawyer and politician, who is the present Governor of Plateau State, Nigeria.

The distinguished Abusite was born on 5 May 1963 in Shendam, Plateau State. After his elementary and secondary school education in Shendam Local Government Area, he proceeded to the School of Preliminary Studies (S.P.S) Keffi, passing out in 1986.

He was admitted to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, graduating in 1990 with a bachelor’s degree in Law. He continued to Nigeria Law School in Lagos, where he was also called to Bar. He later obtained a master’s degree in Law from the University of Jos, in 1996.

Lalong had previously served as an attorney between 1992 to 1998. During this period he was the Deputy Scribe of the Nigerian Bar Association in Plateau State from 1992 to 1994.

Simon Lalong temporarily discarded legal practice to join the political bandwagon in 1998. Winning a seat as a member of the Plateau State House of Assembly representing his native Shendam Constituency.

In October 2000 he became the speaker of the assembly, occupying that position till the year 2006. Becoming the longest serving speaker of the House in the history of Plateau State. He also served as two times (2001–2002) Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of the 36 states of Nigeria.

In 2015, Lalong contested for the position of governor under the APC. His chances seemed narrow at the beginning, but the capricious nature of politics tipped the balance eventually, favoring him by a slim margin. He was sworn in as the new Governor of Plateau State on May 29, 2015.

He was reelected as Governor of Plateau State In the March 9, 2019 Plateau State Gubernatorial Elections and sworn in for a second term on May 29, 2019.

---

#3.YAHAYA ADOZA BELLO [KOGI]

Yahaya Adoza Bello is a Nigerian politician, businessman and the current Governor of Kogi State.

Bello was born June 18, 1975 in Okene, Kogi State, He attended Local Government Education Authority (LGEA) Primary School, Agassa in Okene LGA beginning in 1984. He attended high school at Agassa Community Secondary School, Anyava, Agassa-Okene for his JSSCE and Government Secondary School, Suleja-Niger State for his SSCE certificates in 1994.

Bello studied at Kaduna State Polytechnic Zaria in 1995, obtained an accounting degree and Masters in Business Administration (MBA) both from Ahmadu Bello University ABU Zaria in 1999 and 2002. He became a chartered fellow of the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria in 2004.

Bello was declared winner of the 2015 Kogi gubernatorial election after he was chosen on the platform of the All Progressives Congress as the replacement for the late Abubakar Audu who originally won the election but died before the result was declared.

He was sworn in as Governor of Kogi state on January 27, 2016 and reelected in November, 2019.

---

#4. ABDULLAHI UMAR GANDUJE [KANO]

Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, OFR is a Nigerian politician, former University Lecturer, former deputy governor twice between 1999 and 2003 and 2011 to 2015 and current Governor of Kano State since 2015.

Ganduje was born on 25 December 1949 in Ganduje village of Dawakin Tofa local government area of Kano State in 1949. He started his early education in Qur’anic and Islamiyya school at his village, Ganduje where he was trained in Islamic knowledge.

ALSO READ: Who is Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje OFR?

He later moved to headquarters of his local government where he attended Dawakin Tofa Primary School from 1956 to 1963. Ganduje attended the Government Secondary School Birnin Kudu from 1964 to 1968.

Ganduje attended Advanced Teachers’ College, Kano between 1969 and 1972. He then attended Ahmadu Bello University, located in Zaria, Kaduna State, where he graduated with a Bachelors in Science Education in 1975.

He obtained master’s degree in applied educational psychology from Bayero University Kano in 1979 and later returned to Ahmadu Bello University from 1984 to 1985 for a Master of Public Administration degree. He got his doctorate in Public Administration from University of Ibadan in 1993.

He aspired to be PDP’s gubernatorial candidate in 1999 but lost the primaries to Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. He was later picked as the deputy to Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso between 1999 and 2003. In addition to the deputy governorship, he was also appointed as the Hon. Commissioner for Local Government.

He was selected as the consensus candidate to succeed Kwankwaso as Governor of Kano State on 28 November 2014 among the APC Candidate. He went on to win the 11 April, 2015 gubernatorial elections and was sworn into office on 29 May, 2015.

He was reelected in the 2019 gubernatorial elections on Sunday 24 March to return to office for his second term.

---

#5. MALAM NASIR AHMAD EL-RUFAI [KADUNA]

Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai is a Nigerian politician and distinguished Abusite who is the current Governor of Kaduna State since 2015. He was previously the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory from 2003 to 2007, and the director of the Bureau of Public Enterprises.

Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai was born on February 16, 1960, to a Fulani family in Daudawa. He was educated at Barewa College. In 1976, he graduated at the top of his class, winning the “Barewa Old Boys’ Association Academic Achievement” Trophy.

ALSO READ: Malam Nasir El-Rufai – An illustrious and Unique Abusite

He proceeded to Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, where he received a bachelor’s degree in quantity surveying graduating top of his class. In 1984, he received a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School. And has also attended several professional and post-graduate programs, including the Georgetown School of Foreign Service of Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.

In 2014, following the APC governorship primaries El-Rufai emerged as the party’s candidate for Governor of Kaduna State. He went on to win the governorship election defeating the incumbent Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero.

He was sworn in On 29 May 2015 as the 22nd Governor of Kaduna State. He was reelected on March 9, 2019.

---

#6. MUHAMMED BADARU ABUBAKAR [JIGAWA]

Mohammed Badaru Abubakar (MON) (born in Babura in 1962) is the 4th democratically elected Governor of Jigawa State in Nigeria. He is the Chairman, Presidential Committee on Fertilizer and also the Chairman, Presidential Committee on Non oil Revenue

Abubakar is a graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria where he obtained a B.Sc Accounting degree. While studying at the University, he became involved in community activism, sport and business. Badaru is also an alumnus of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) in Kuru.

Abubakar was Vice President II of the Federation of the West Africa Chamber of Commerce and a Fellow of the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria. Prior to that, he was a member of the National Council on Privatisation.

Badaru is currently the National President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture.

Abubakar contested for governorship under the platform of the All Progressives Congress in 2015 and was declared winner on 13 April 2015. On 9 March 2019 Jigawa state gubernatorial election, Badaru was re-elected as governor.

---

#7. MUHAMMAD INUWA YAHAYA [GOMBE]

Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya is a Nigerian businessman and politician. He is the Executive Governor of Gombe State elected on 9 March 2019, under the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

He was born on October 9, 1961, in Jekadafari, Gombe State. After elementary schooling and secondary education, he went to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria where he obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting in 1983.

His first appointment was with the Bauchi State Investment and Property Development (BSIPDC) as an accountant, and later became the Principal Accountant. He joined Nasara Motors Limited, his family business, as the Administration and Finance Manager, and later became Managing Director of the Nasara Group of companies.

In 2003, he was appointed as Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development by Governor Muhammed Danjuma Goje.

Yahaya joined politics in 2003. In the governorship election in 2015, He was the flag bearer of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Gombe State. On October 1, 2018 he won the Gombe State gubernatorial All Progressives Congress primary election with the highest votes.

Yahaya was elected to the Office of Governor of Gombe State at the 2019 gubernatorial election which was held on March 9, 2019.

---

#8. SAMUEL ORTOM [BENUE]

Samuel Ioraer Ortom is a Nigerian philanthropist, businessman, politician and administrator. He was a Minister of State Trade and Investments in Nigeria during the presidency of Goodluck Jonathan.

He was born 23 April 1961 in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria. He attended St. John’s Primary School, Gboko in 1970 but moved to St. Catherine’s Primary School, Makurdi in 1974, completing his primary education in 1976.

Chief Dr. Samuel Ioraer Ortom was admitted into Idah Secondary Commercial College, Idah in Kogi State in 1976. He did two years in the school before his father’s retirement in 1979 ended his dream of completing formal secondary school education for financial reasons. He became a professional driver.

He later obtained the General Certificate of Education as well as a Diploma in Salesmanship. He enrolled at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and obtained both the Interim Joint Matriculation Board Certificate, in 1995 and Diploma in Journalism in 1998.

He later attended the Benue State University where he obtained the Advanced Diploma in Personnel Management in 2001 as well as Master of Public Administration in 2004.

Ortom served different political parties in Benue State. He was PDP National Auditor before his appointment as Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in July 2011.

Ortom was elected governor of Benue State as a member of the All Progressives Congress in 2015. He was re-elected as governor on 29 May 2019.

---

For Advert Placement, Sponsorship, support, Article submission, suggestion, etc, Contact us: info@theabusites.com, +2349015751816 (WhatsApp)