Election archive
Everything about the 2023 elections in Nigeria: candidates, results, key moments, incidents and what changed afterwards.
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Imo has voted out a sitting governor, elected an APGA governor, and in January 2020 saw the Supreme Court remove Emeka Ihedioha and install Hope Uzodimma, who had finished fourth. Every governorship result since 1999.
Enugu gave the PDP some of its biggest wins anywhere for 20 years, then nearly lost to the Labour Party in 2023. In 2025 Governor Peter Mbah took the state into the APC. Every governorship result since 1999.
Ebonyi elected PDP governors for 20 years, often with lopsided margins, until Governor Dave Umahi crossed to the APC in 2020 and handed over to his Speaker. Every governorship result since 1999, and the 2027 race.
Abia has had five governors since 1999 and has never voted out a sitting governor, but its 2015 result was overturned and restored in the courts, and in 2023 the Labour Party ended the PDP's long hold. Every result since 1999.
The PDP won every Delta governorship election from 1999 to 2023, though one was annulled and the opposition came within 92,000 votes in 2011. In April 2025 the governor and his predecessor took the state into the APC.
Cross River elected PDP governors for 24 years, often with huge margins, then followed Governor Ben Ayade into the APC. Every governorship result since 1999, including the 2008 rerun, and the 2027 race.
Bayelsa produced a President, lost a governor to a money-laundering scandal, had a 2007 result annulled, and in 2020 saw the Supreme Court remove its governor-elect a day before his swearing-in. Every result since 1999.
The PDP won every Akwa Ibom governorship election from 1999 to 2023, several with more than a million votes. In 2025 Governor Umo Eno took the state into the APC. Every result since 1999 and the 2027 field.
Oyo voted out two sitting governors, saw one impeached and restored by the courts, and gave Abiola Ajimobi the first second term in its history. Seyi Makinde has since won twice by wide margins. Every result since 1999.
Ogun has voted out a sitting governor, swung between the AD, PDP, ACN and APC, and in 2023 re-elected Dapo Abiodun by fewer than 14,000 votes. The results since 1999 and the 2027 field.
Plateau has had a governor suspended under emergency rule, an impeachment the Supreme Court overturned, an APC breakthrough in 2015 and a 2023 winner removed and then restored by the courts. Every result since 1999.
Home state of two former military rulers, Niger was a PDP state until 2015, when the son of one general beat the son of another. Every governorship result since 1999 and the 2027 race.
Nasarawa elected Nigeria's only CPC governor in 2011 by fewer than 5,000 votes, and in 2023 a tribunal briefly removed its governor before the higher courts restored him. Every result since 1999.
For two decades the Saraki family decided who governed Kwara. In 2019 the "O to ge" ("Enough is enough") campaign ended that, and AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq won every local government. Every result since 1999, and the 2027 race.
Kogi votes off-cycle because of a 2008 rerun. Its 2015 election was thrown into confusion when the leading candidate died before the result was declared, and a substitute became governor. Every result since 1999.
Benue was a PDP state for 16 years, elected a governor who switched parties twice, and in 2023 chose a suspended Catholic priest. The results since 1999, and a 2027 race against a former Attorney-General.
Zamfara introduced sharia criminal law, saw the Supreme Court hand every 2019 seat to the party that came second, and has voted out two sitting governors. In 2027 Governor Dauda Lawal runs on the APC ticket.
Sokoto has seen an annulled election, a governorship cut short by the Supreme Court, a Speaker who became governor and switched parties, and in 2019 one of the narrowest wins in Nigerian history.
Kebbi has had four governors since 1999. One won his second term only after the Supreme Court annulled the first result; the current governor was national president of the teachers' union. In 2027 he faces a former Attorney-General.
Umaru Musa Yar'Adua governed Katsina before becoming President, and Muhammadu Buhari's home state swung to the APC with him in 2015. Every governorship result since 1999, and the 2027 race.
Kaduna has had six governors since 1999: one became Vice-President, one died in a helicopter crash and one lost his seat to Nasir El-Rufai. Its 2023 race was decided by less than one percentage point.
Jigawa has changed ruling party twice since 1999, each time with the national tide. In 2027 Governor Umar Namadi faces the son of former governor Sule Lamido for the second time.
Yobe has elected an opposition or APC governor at every election since 1999, through a governor's death in office and the Boko Haram insurgency. The results, the margins and the 2027 field.
Taraba elected a PDP governor at every election from 1999 to 2023, through a plane crash that left the state without an active governor, a tribunal ruling that briefly handed victory to "Mama Taraba", and a governor's jailing. Then the governor joined the APC.
Recorded from reliable reporting, by place.
