List of governors of Imo State

Imo State, located in the South East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, has been governed by a succession of military governors, administrators, and elected governors since its formation on 3 February 1976, when it was carved out of the former East Central State. This action was part of a nationwide state-creation reform under the military regime of Murtala Mohammed. Before 1976, the area was part of East Central State, which had been created in 1967 when Yakubu Gowon dissolved the Eastern Region during the Nigerian Civil War and split it into East Central State, Rivers State, and South-Eastern State. East Central State covered much of the Igbo-speaking area until its division in 1976. During that period, Ukpabi Asika served as administrator until 1975, followed by Anthony Ochefu until the state's dissolution. From its creation in 1976, Imo State was governed by military appointees: Ndubuisi Kanu (1976–1977), Adekunle Lawal (1977–1978), and Sunday Ajibade Adenihun (1978–1979). With the advent of the Second Republic in October 1979, Samuel Mbakwe of the Nigerian Peoples Party (NPP) served as the first civilian governor from October 1979 to December 1983. Military rule returned by the end of 1983, and between 1984 and 1992 the state was led by Ike Nwachukwu (1984–1985), Allison Madueke (1985–1985), Amadi Ikwechegh (1986–1990), and Anthony Oguguo (1990–1992).

During the Third Republic, Evan Enwerem of the National Republican Convention (NRC) held office from January 1992 until the 1993 coup. Subsequent administrators were James Aneke (1993–1996), and Tanko Zubairu (1996–1999). Since the return of democracy under the Fourth Republic in 1999, all of Imo's governors have been elected. The incumbent governor is Hope Uzodimma of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who has been in office since his election in March 2019.