Peter Obi

Peter Obi
Governor of Anambra State
In office 14 June 2007 – 17 March 2014
Preceded by	Andy Uba
Succeeded by	Willie Obiano
In office 9 February 2007 – 29 May 2007
Preceded by	Virginia Etiaba
Succeeded by	Andy Uba
In office 17 March 2006 – 2 November 2006
Preceded by	Chris Ngige
Succeeded by	Virginia Etiaba
Personal details
Born	July 19, 1961 Onitsha, Anambra State, Nigeria

Peter Obi (born 19 July 1961) was governor of Anambra State in Nigeria^[1] from 17 March 2006 to 2 November 2006, when he was impeached and from 9 February 2007 to 29 May 2007 after his impeachment was overturned. Although a fresh election was held on 29 April 2007, he was reappointed governor on 14 June 2007 after a court ruling that he should be allowed to complete a four-year term.^[2] He won a 6 February 2010 election for a second term as governor.^[3]

Background

Peter Obi was born on 19 July 1961 at Onitsha. He attended Christ the King College, Onitsha where he completed his secondary school education. He was admitted to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 1980, graduating with a B.A (Hons) in philosophy in 1984. and he is the chairman of Nigeria Security and Exchange Commission.

Going into business, he became Chairman of Next International Nigeria Ltd, then Chairman and Director of Guardian Express Mortgage Bank Ltd, Guardian Express Bank Plc, Future View Securities Ltd, Paymaster Nigeria Ltd, Chams Nigeria Ltd, Data Corp Ltd and Card Centre Ltd. He was the youngest Chairman of Fidelity Bank PLC. Peter Obi married Margaret Brownson Usen in 1992 after which they had their first child Gabriella Nwamaka Frances Obi, two years later they had their first son Gregory Peter Oseloka Obi. He was recently appointed the chairman of the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) by former President Goodluck Jonathan. ^[4]

Governorship

First term

Peter Obi stood in the Anambra State governorship election as candidate for the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) party in 2003, but his rival, Chris Ngige of the People's Democratic Party, was declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

After nearly three years of litigation, Ngige's victory was overturned by the Court of Appeal on 15 March 2006. Obi took office for on 17 March 2006. On 2 November 2006, he was impeached by the state house of assembly after seven months in office and replaced the next day by Virginia Etiaba, his deputy, making her the first ever female Governor in Nigeria's history. Obi successfully challenged his impeachment and was re-instated as the governor on 9 February 2007 by the Court of Appeal sitting in Enugu. Etiaba handed power back to him after the court ruling.^[5]

He once again left office on 29 May 2007 following the general elections, which Andy Uba won. Obi returned to the courts once more, this time contending that the four-year tenure he had won in the 2003 elections only started to run when he took office in March 2006. On 14 June 2007 the Supreme Court of Nigeria upheld Obi's contention and returned Obi to office. This brought to an abrupt end the tenure of Obi's successor, Andy Uba whose April 14, 2007 election the Supreme Court nullified on the grounds that Obi's four-year tenure should have remained undisturbed until March 2010.^[6]

Second term

On 7 February 2010, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Peter Obi the winner of the 6 February 2010 gubernatorial elections, where he defeated Professor Charles Soludo, former Governor, CBN. This election victory gave Governor Obi an additional four years as the governor of Anambra State.^[3] On the 17th of March 2014 Peter Obi served out his second term and handed over the governorship to Willie Obiano.

References

1. "Governor Peter Onwubuasi Obi". Who's Who Profile. Africa Confidential. Retrieved 18 February 2012. Challenged Chris Ngige’s election as Governor of Anambra State, 2003; legal battles with Ngige, 2003-06; Governor, Anambra State, March 2006-November 06; impeached, November 2006; re-instated as Governor to finish original four-year tenure, June 2007.
2. Temple Chima Ubochi (June 17, 2007). "Governor Peter Obi Of Anambra State: Consistency; [Perseverance] And Patience Are Worthy Virtues". NigeriaWorld. Retrieved June 2, 2015.
3. "Obi Re-elected Anambra State Governor...(UPDATED)". ThisDay. July 2, 2010. Archived from the original on February 12, 2010. Retrieved June 2, 2015.
4. Chuks, Chris (2009-07-09). "Meet the Governor". PeterObi.org (Exmark Technologies). Retrieved 2009-12-09.
5. Etaghene Edirin (14 February 2010). "Peter Obi - The Making of an Enigma". Daily Champion.
6. Eboh, Camillus (2007-06-14). "Close Obasanjo ally loses governor's seat in Nigeria". Africa.Reuters.com (Reuters). Retrieved 2008-01-14.