Governors of Kano State
Complete list of all 19 governors from 1967 to 2026 — 19 elected civilian governors and 0 military administrators.
Current Governor of Kano State (2026)
Abba Kabir Yusuf
Governor of Kano State
| Party | NNPP |
|---|---|
| In office since | 2023 (3 years in 2026) |
Kano State Governor Records
Full List of Kano State Governors
| # | Name | Party / Type | Period | Duration | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Audu Bako | Military | 1967 – 1975 | 8 yrs | Former |
| 2 | Abba Kabir Yusuf | APC | 2023 – 2026 (current) | 3 yrs | Incumbent |
| 3 | Sani Bello | Military | 1975 – 1978 | 3 yrs | Former |
| 4 | Hussaini Abdullahi | Military | 1978 – 1979 | 1 yr | Former |
| 5 | Muhammad Goni | — | 1979 – 1983 | 4 yrs | Former |
| 6 | Sabo Bakin Zuwo | Military | 1983 – 1983 | 0 yrs | Former |
| 7 | Hamza Abdullahi | Military | 1984 – 1985 | 1 yr | Former |
| 8 | Abubakar Umar | Military | 1985 – 1988 | 3 yrs | Former |
| 9 | Ahmed Usman | Military | 1988 – 1992 | 4 yrs | Former |
| 10 | Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya | NRC | 1992 – 1993 | 1 yr | Former |
| 11 | Mohammed Aminu-Kano | Military | 1993 – 1993 | 0 yrs | Former |
| 12 | Musa Abdullahi Sali | Military | 1993 – 1995 | 2 yrs | Former |
| 13 | Mohammed Abdullahi Wase | Military | 1995 – 1996 | 1 yr | Former |
| 14 | Rasheed Shekoni | Military | 1996 – 1999 | 3 yrs | Former |
| 15 | Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso | PDP | 1999 – 2003 | 4 yrs | Former |
| 16 | Ibrahim Shekarau | ANPP | 2003 – 2011 | 8 yrs | Former |
| 17 | Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso | PDP | 2011 – 2015 | 4 yrs | Former |
| 18 | Abdullahi Umar Ganduje | APC | 2015 – 2023 | 8 yrs | Former |
| 19 | Abba Kabir Yusuf | NNPP | 2023 – 2026 (current) | 3 yrs | Incumbent |
Governor Profiles — Kano State
Audu Bako
Military Governor of Kano State during the early years after state creation.
Abba Kabir Yusuf
Sani Bello
Military Governor during the military administration of the 1970s.
Hussaini Abdullahi
Military Governor before the return to civilian government.
Muhammad Goni
Civilian Governor of Kano State during the Second Republic.
Sabo Bakin Zuwo
Briefly served as Governor before the December 1983 military takeover.
Hamza Abdullahi
Military Governor of Kano State.
Abubakar Umar
Military Governor during the Babangida administration.
Ahmed Usman
Military Governor of Kano State.
Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya
Elected Governor during the Third Republic transition.
Mohammed Aminu-Kano
Military Administrator during the transition period.
Musa Abdullahi Sali
Military Administrator of Kano State.
Mohammed Abdullahi Wase
Military Administrator before the creation of Jigawa-era administrative restructuring.
Rasheed Shekoni
Military Administrator during the final years of military rule.
Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso
First elected Governor of Kano State in the Fourth Republic.
Ibrahim Shekarau
Governor of Kano State for two consecutive terms.
Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso
Returned as Governor for a second non-consecutive tenure.
Abdullahi Umar Ganduje
Governor of Kano State for two consecutive terms.
Abba Kabir Yusuf
Incumbent Governor of Kano State, sworn into office on 29 May 2023.
Frequently Asked Questions — Kano State Governor
Who is the current governor of Kano State?
The current governor of Kano State is Abba Kabir Yusuf, of the NNPP. He has been in office since 2023.
What is the full name of the Kano State Governor?
The current Kano State Governor is Abba Kabir Yusuf.
Who is the Deputy Governor of Kano State?
The Deputy Governor of Kano State serves alongside the Governor.
What is the Kano State Governor's religion?
The religious affiliation of the current Kano State Governor is not formally published in state government records.
What is the age of the Kano State Governor in 2026?
The date of birth of the current Kano State Governor has not been officially confirmed in public records.
Who is the wife of the Kano State Governor?
The spouse of the current Kano State Governor is not formally listed in state government public records.
What is the address of the Kano State Government House?
The Kano State Governor's official residence and office is the Kano State Government House in Kano.
How many governors has Kano State had?
Kano 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 Kano State?
The first governor of Kano State was Audu Bako, who took office in 1967 as a Military Governor.