Governors of Cross River State
Complete list of all 19 governors from 1967 to 2026 — 19 elected civilian governors and 0 military administrators.
Current Governor of Cross River State (2026)
Bassey Edet Otu
Governor of Cross River State
| Party | APC |
|---|---|
| In office since | 2023 (3 years in 2026) |
Cross River State Governor Records
Full List of Cross River State Governors
| # | Name | Party / Type | Period | Duration | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Udoakaha Jacob Esuene | Military | 1967 – 1975 | 8 yrs | Former |
| 2 | Sen. Bassey Edet Otu | APC | 2023 – 2026 (current) | 3 yrs | Incumbent |
| 3 | Paul Ofuoma Omu | Military | 1976 – 1978 | 2 yrs | Former |
| 4 | Babatunde Elegbede | Military | 1978 – 1979 | 1 yr | Former |
| 5 | Clement Nyong Isong | NPN | 1979 – 1983 | 4 yrs | Former |
| 6 | Donald Etiebet | NPN | 1983 – 1983 | 0 yrs | Former |
| 7 | Edet Archibong | Military | 1984 – 1984 | 0 yrs | Former |
| 8 | Dan Patrick Archibong | Military | 1984 – 1986 | 2 yrs | Former |
| 9 | Eben Ibim Princewill | Military | 1986 – 1989 | 3 yrs | Former |
| 10 | Ernest Kizito Attah | Military | 1989 – 1992 | 3 yrs | Former |
| 11 | Clement David Ebri | NRC | 1992 – 1993 | 1 yr | Former |
| 12 | Ibrahim Kefas | Military | 1993 – 1994 | 1 yr | Former |
| 13 | Gregory Agboneni | Military | 1994 – 1996 | 2 yrs | Former |
| 14 | Umar Farouk Ahmed | Military | 1996 – 1998 | 2 yrs | Former |
| 15 | Christopher Osondu | Military | 1998 – 1999 | 1 yr | Former |
| 16 | Donald Etim Duke | PDP | 1999 – 2007 | 8 yrs | Former |
| 17 | Liyel Imoke | PDP | 2007 – 2015 | 8 yrs | Former |
| 18 | Benedict Ayade | PDP | 2015 – 2023 | 8 yrs | Former |
| 19 | Bassey Edet Otu | APC | 2023 – 2026 (current) | 3 yrs | Incumbent |
Governor Profiles — Cross River State
Udoakaha Jacob Esuene
Military Governor — first military governor of South-Eastern State, created on 27 May 1967 from the former Eastern Region.
Sen. Bassey Edet Otu
Paul Ofuoma Omu
Military Governor — administered the state during the period when South-Eastern State was renamed Cross River State.
Babatunde Elegbede
Military Governor — served until the return to civilian democratic government in 1979.
Clement Nyong Isong
Civilian Governor — first elected civilian governor of the state during the Second Republic.
Donald Etiebet
Civilian Governor — served briefly before the military coup of December 1983.
Edet Archibong
Military Administrator — served during the early period of renewed military rule.
Dan Patrick Archibong
Military Administrator — continued military administration during the Buhari-Idiagbon era and transition into the Babangida period.
Eben Ibim Princewill
Military Administrator — governed Cross River during the Babangida administration.
Ernest Kizito Attah
Military Administrator — served until the return to elected civilian government in the early 1990s.
Clement David Ebri
Civilian Governor — first elected civilian governor of the current Cross River State during the short-lived Third Republic.
Ibrahim Kefas
Military Administrator — appointed after the military takeover following the annulment of the Third Republic.
Gregory Agboneni
Military Administrator — served during the military administration of General Sani Abacha.
Umar Farouk Ahmed
Military Administrator — served during the Abacha administration.
Christopher Osondu
Military Administrator — last military administrator before the restoration of democratic government in May 1999.
Donald Etim Duke
Civilian Governor — led Cross River during the first two terms of the Fourth Republic and strongly promoted tourism and the Calabar Carnival.
Liyel Imoke
Civilian Governor — served two terms and focused on infrastructure, education, healthcare and economic development.
Benedict Ayade
Civilian Governor — served two terms. He later moved from the PDP to the APC in 2021.
Bassey Edet Otu
Civilian Governor — elected in 2023 and sworn in on 29 May 2023. He is the incumbent Governor of Cross River State.
Frequently Asked Questions — Cross River State Governor
Who is the current governor of Cross River State?
The current governor of Cross River State is Bassey Edet Otu, of the APC. He has been in office since 2023.
What is the full name of the Cross River State Governor?
The current Cross River State Governor is Bassey Edet Otu.
Who is the Deputy Governor of Cross River State?
The Deputy Governor of Cross River State serves alongside the Governor.
What is the Cross River State Governor's religion?
The religious affiliation of the current Cross River State Governor is not formally published in state government records.
What is the age of the Cross River State Governor in 2026?
The date of birth of the current Cross River State Governor has not been officially confirmed in public records.
Who is the wife of the Cross River State Governor?
The spouse of the current Cross River State Governor is not formally listed in state government public records.
What is the address of the Cross River State Government House?
The Cross River State Governor's official residence and office is the Cross River State Government House in Calabar.
How many governors has Cross River State had?
Cross River State has had 19 governors since its creation, comprising 0 military governors (or administrators) and 19 elected civilian governors.
Who was the first governor of Cross River State?
The first governor of Cross River State was Udoakaha Jacob Esuene, who took office in 1967 as a Military Governor.