The Nigerian state governors 2011–2015 term formally begins in May 2011 for the 26 state Governors in Nigeria elected in April 2011. In the 10 other states, elections were delayed until the current incumbent had served their full term.Governors are normally elected for a four-year term during the national elections in which the President and members of the upper and lower house are also elected, as are the state legislators. In some cases, the first officeholder may be replaced by another, for example through death, impeachment or if an election is annulled.
Elections for 24 of the 36 states in Nigeria were held on 26 April 2011.In the northern states, elections were held in an atmosphere of violence that followed the election on 16 April 2011 of the southerner Goodluck Jonathan as President.[1] Elections were delayed until 28 April in Bauchi and Kaduna states due to violence between Christians and Muslims. Turnout in these states was low when the elections were held.[2]
Initial results for 12 states were announced on 28 April 2011, with seven governors being reelected and five governors elected for the first time.Later that day, results for 22 of the states had been declared, of which the People's Democratic Party (PDP) had taken 15.The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the election in Imo State "inconclusive" due to irregularities in collation of results.On 29 April the INEC decided to hold supplementary polls in four local government areas and one ward in Imo State on 6 May 2011 to decide the election.[3]
Elections for the 10 remaining states were to be held only when the four-year tenures of the current governors run out. The governors of Adamawa, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River, Edo, Ekiti, Kogi, Ondo, Osun and Sokoto states had served less than four years due to taking office only after nullification of the election of former incumbents.[4]
As of 28 May 2011, the breakdown of Governors by party in 36 states was:
| Party | States | |
|---|---|---|
| ACN (Action Congress of Nigeria) | 6 | |
| ANPP (All Nigeria People's Party) | 3 | |
| APGA (All Progressives Grand Alliance) | 2 | |
| CPC (Congress for Progressive Change) | 1 | |
| LP (Labour Party) | 1 | |
| PDP (People's Democratic Party) | 23 |
| State | Governor | Party | Date elected | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abia | PDP | 26 April 2011 | Reelected | ||
| Adamawa | PDP | 29 April 2008 | Elected after April 2007 election was nullified | ||
| Akwa Ibom | PDP | 26 April 2011 | Reelected | ||
| Anambra | APGA | 6 February 2010 | Second term | ||
| Bauchi | PDP | 28 April 2011 | Reelected | ||
| Bayelsa | PDP | 24 May 2008 | Reelected after nullification of April 2007 election | ||
| PDP | 26 April 2011 | Reelected | |||
| Borno | ANPP | 26 April 2011 | First term | ||
| Cross River | PDP | 23 August 2008 | Reelected after nullification of April 2007 election | ||
| Delta | PDP | 26 April 2011 | Reelected | ||
| Ebonyi | PDP | 26 April 2011 | Reelected | ||
| Edo | ACN | 12 November 2008 | Assumed office after winning appeal of April 2007 election | ||
| Ekiti | ACN | 15 October 2010 | Assumed office after winning appeal of April 2007 election | ||
| Enugu | PDP | 26 April 2011 | Reelected | ||
| Gombe | PDP | 26 April 2011 | First term | ||
| Imo | APGA | 6 May 2011 | First term | ||
| Jigawa | PDP | 26 April 2011 | Reelected | ||
| Kaduna | PDP | 26 April 2011 | Incumbent, appointed governor on 20 May 2010 when Namadi Sambo became Vice President | ||
| PDP | 26 April 2011 | Reelected | |||
| Katsina | PDP | 28 April 2011 | Reelected | ||
| PDP | 26 April 2011 | Reelected | |||
| PDP | 29 March 2008 | Elected after April 2007 election declared invalid | |||
| PDP | 26 April 2011 | First term | |||
| ACN | 26 April 2011 | Reelected | |||
| Nasarawa | CPC | 26 April 2011 | First term | ||
| PDP | 26 April 2011 | Reelected | |||
| ACN | 26 April 2011 | Reelected | |||
| LP | 24 February 2009 | Assumed office after election of Olusegun Agagu was nullified | |||
| ACN | 26 November 2010 | Assumed office after election of Olagunsoye Oyinlola was nullified | |||
| ACN | 26 April 2011 | First term | |||
| Plateau | PDP | 26 April 2011 | Reelected | ||
| PDP | 26 April 2011 | Reelected | |||
| PDP | 28 May 2008 | Reelected after April 2007 election annulled | |||
| PDP | 26 April 2011 | Re-elected | |||
| ANPP | 26 April 2011 | Reelected | |||
| ANPP | 26 April 2011 | First term |