Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya is the Governor of Gombe State, now in his second and final term, and chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum. An accountant and businessman, he was finance commissioner under Governor Danjuma Goje before winning the governorship for the APC at his second attempt.12

Early life and career

Yahaya was born in Gombe on 9 October 1961 and studied accounting at Ahmadu Bello University. He worked as an accountant and ran a civil engineering company before Governor Goje appointed him Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development in 2003.1

Governor (2019–present)

After losing as the APC candidate in 2015, he won in 2019 with 364,179 votes against 222,868 for the PDP’s Usman Bayero Nafada, ending the PDP’s long rule in the state. In 2023 he was re-elected with 342,821 votes against 233,131 for the PDP’s Jibrin Barde.1

His government highlights its road programme, which aims to connect every part of the state, and investments in water, health and education.3 His fellow northern governors chose him to lead their forum, where he has spoken for the region on insecurity and on federal policy.2 He cannot run for governor again in 2027.

Personal life

Yahaya has two wives and seven children. He holds the traditional title Dan Majen Gombe.1

References

  1. Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya. Wikipedia, accessed October 2026. ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩

  2. As Inuwa Yahaya takes the driver’s seat in Northern Governors Forum. Daily Trust. ↩ ↩

  3. Inuwa Yahaya at seven: a record of transformation. Leadership, 2026. ↩