Governors of Benue State
Complete list of all 15 governors from 1976 to 2026 — 15 elected civilian governors and 0 military administrators.
Current Governor of Benue State (2026)
Hyacinth Alia
Governor of Benue State
| Party | APC |
|---|---|
| In office since | 2023 (3 years in 2026) |
Benue State Governor Records
Full List of Benue State Governors
| # | Name | Party / Type | Period | Duration | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abdullahi Shelleng | Military | 1976 – 1978 | 2 yrs | Former |
| 2 | Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia | APC | 2023 – 2026 (current) | 3 yrs | Incumbent |
| 3 | George Innih | Military | 1978 – 1979 | 1 yr | Former |
| 4 | Aper Aku | NPN | 1979 – 1983 | 4 yrs | Former |
| 5 | John Atom Kpera | Military | 1984 – 1985 | 1 yr | Former |
| 6 | Joshua Obademi | Military | 1985 – 1987 | 2 yrs | Former |
| 7 | Idris Garba | Military | 1987 – 1988 | 1 yr | Former |
| 8 | Lawrence Onoja | Military | 1988 – 1990 | 2 yrs | Former |
| 9 | Moses Adasu | SDP | 1992 – 1993 | 1 yr | Former |
| 10 | Aminu Isa Kontagora | Military | 1993 – 1995 | 2 yrs | Former |
| 11 | Joshua Ihiovba | Military | 1995 – 1996 | 1 yr | Former |
| 12 | George Akume | PDP | 1999 – 2007 | 8 yrs | Former |
| 13 | Gabriel Suswam | PDP | 2007 – 2015 | 8 yrs | Former |
| 14 | Samuel Ortom | PDP | 2015 – 2023 | 8 yrs | Former |
| 15 | Hyacinth Alia | APC | 2023 – 2026 (current) | 3 yrs | Incumbent |
Governor Profiles — Benue State
Abdullahi Shelleng
Military Governor of Benue State during the early years following state creation.
Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia
George Innih
Military Governor who served during the transition to the Second Republic.
Aper Aku
First civilian Governor of Benue State during the Second Republic.
John Atom Kpera
Military Governor during the Buhari military administration.
Joshua Obademi
Military Governor of Benue State.
Idris Garba
Military Governor during the Babangida administration.
Lawrence Onoja
Military Governor of Benue State.
Moses Adasu
Civilian Governor during the aborted Third Republic.
Aminu Isa Kontagora
Military Administrator of Benue State.
Joshua Ihiovba
Military Administrator during the Abacha administration.
George Akume
Governor of Benue State from 1999 to 2007. He served two terms and later became a senator and Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
Gabriel Suswam
Governor of Benue State from 2007 to 2015.
Samuel Ortom
Governor of Benue State from 2015 to 2023.
Hyacinth Alia
Incumbent Governor of Benue State. He assumed office in May 2023.
Frequently Asked Questions — Benue State Governor
Who is the current governor of Benue State?
The current governor of Benue State is Hyacinth Alia, of the APC. He has been in office since 2023.
What is the full name of the Benue State Governor?
The current Benue State Governor is Hyacinth Alia.
Who is the Deputy Governor of Benue State?
The Deputy Governor of Benue State serves alongside the Governor.
What is the Benue State Governor's religion?
The religious affiliation of the current Benue State Governor is not formally published in state government records.
What is the age of the Benue State Governor in 2026?
The date of birth of the current Benue State Governor has not been officially confirmed in public records.
Who is the wife of the Benue State Governor?
The spouse of the current Benue State Governor is not formally listed in state government public records.
What is the address of the Benue State Government House?
The Benue State Governor's official residence and office is the Benue State Government House in Makurdi.
How many governors has Benue State had?
Benue State has had 15 governors since its creation, comprising 0 military governors (or administrators) and 15 elected civilian governors.
Who was the first governor of Benue State?
The first governor of Benue State was Abdullahi Shelleng, who took office in 1976 as a Military Governor.