| No | Name | Title | Assumed office | Left office | Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | John Atom Kpera | Governor | March 1976 | July 1978 | Military |
| 2 | Col. Datti Sadiq Abubakar | Governor | July 1978 | October 1979 | Military |
| 3 | Jim Nwobodo | Governor | October 1979 | October 1983 | NPP |
| 4 | Christian Onoh | Governor | October 1983 | December 1983 | NPN |
| 5 | Allison Madueke | Governor | January 1984 | August 1985 | Military |
| 6 | Samson Omeruah | Governor | August 1985 | December 1987 | Military |
| 7 | Robert Akonobi | Governor | December 1987 | August 1990 | Military |
| 8 | Herbert Eze | Governor | August 1990 | January 1992 | Military |
| 9 | Joseph Abulu | Administrator | 27 August 1991 | January 1992 | Military |
| 10 | Chukwuemeka Ezeife | Governor | 2 January 1992 | 17 November 1993 | SDP |
| 11 | Dabo Aliyu | Acting Administrator | November 1993 | December 1993 | Police |
| 12 | Mike Attah | Administrator | 9 December 1993 | 21 August 1996 | Military |
| 13 | Rufai Garba | Administrator | 21 August 1996 | 6 August 1998 | Military |
| 14 | Emmanuel Ukaegbu | Administrator | 6 August 1998 | 29 May 1999 | Military |
| 15 | Chinwoke Mbadinuju | Governor | 29 May 1999 | 29 May 2003 | PDP |
| 16 | Chris Ngige | Governor | 29 May 2003 | 17 March 2006 | PDP |
| 17 | Peter Obi | Governor | 17 March 2006 | 3 November 2006 | APGA |
| 18 | Virginia Etiaba | Governor | 3 November 2006 | 9 February 2007 | APGA |
| 19 | Peter Obi | Governor | 9 February 2007 | 17 March 2014 | APGA |
| 20 | Willie Obiano | Governor | 17 March 2014 | 17 March 2022 | APGA |
| 21 | Charles Chukwuma Soludo | Governor | 17 March 2022 | Incumbent | APGA |