| Name | Title | Assumed office | Left office | Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Musa Usman | Governor | 28 May 1967 | July 1975 | Military |
| Muhammadu Buhari | Governor | July 1975 | March 1976 | Military |
| Group Captain Mustapha A. Amin | Governor | March 1976 | July 1978 | Military |
| Tunde Idiagbon | Governor | July 1978 | October 1979 | Military |
| Mohammed Goni | Governor | October 1979 | October 1983 | GNPP |
| Asheik Jarma | Governor | 1 October 1983 | 31 December 1983 | NPN |
| Abubakar Waziri | Governor | January 1984 | August 1985 | Military |
| Abdulmumini Aminu | Governor | August 1985 | December 1987 | Military |
| Abdul One Mohammed | Governor | December 1987 | December 1989 | Military |
| Mohammed Maina | Governor | December 1989 | June 1990 | Military |
| Mohammed Buba Marwa | Governor | June 1990 | January 1992 | Military |
| Maina Maaji Lawan | Governor | January 1992 | November 1993 | SDP |
| Ibrahim Dada | Administrator | 9 December 1993 | 22 August 1996 | Military |
| Victor Ozodinobi | Administrator | 22 August 1996 | 1997 | Military |
| Augustine Aniebo | Administrator | 1997 | August 1998 | Military |
| Lawal Haruna | Administrator | August 1998 | May 1999 | Military |
| Mala Kachalla | Governor | 29 May 1999 | 29 May 2003 | APP |
| Ali Modu Sheriff | Governor | 29 May 2003 | 29 May 2011 | ANPP |
| Kashim Shettima | Governor | 29 May 2011 | 29 May 2019 | APC |
| Babagana Umara Zulum | Governor | 29 May 2019 | Incumbent | APC |