After Nigeria recorded its index case in Ogun in February 2020, COVID-19 spread across the country’s 36 states.

Globally, the virus did not spare world leaders as top personalities, including the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the then-U.S. President Donald Trump and France’s President Emmanuel Macron tested positive for COVID-19.

Claiming over 2,000 lives in the first year of its outbreak in Nigeria, COVID-19 has killed notable Nigerian politicians, lawmakers and other socialites.

In 2020, former Governor Abiola Ajimobi died of COVID-19 complications. That same year, the former Chief of staff to President Muhamadu Buhari, Abba Kyari, also died of the virus.

While no sitting governor has fatally succumbed to the deadly coronavirus, some are part of the COVID-19 statistics.

Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna)

Governor Nasir el-Rufai, on March 29, 2020, tested positive for the virus. He recovered a month later.

Seyi Makinde (Oyo)

A day after Mr. El-Rufai tested positive for COVID-19, his Oyo colleague, Seyi Makinde, announced the disease had plagued him. He announced his recovery on April 5, 2020.

Bala Mohammed (Bauchi)

Governor Bala Mohammed announced his COVID-19 status on March 24, 2020. He recovered on April 9, 2020.

Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo)

Governor Rotimi Akeredolu tested positive for the virus on June 30, 2020. He announced his negative status on July 7, 2020.

Simon Lalong (Plateau)

Governor Lalong tested positive for the deadly virus on December 17, 2020. He recovered a week after.

Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta)

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta (including his wife, days after their daughter caught the virus) tested positive for coronavirus on June 30, 2020. On July 14, he was given a clean bill of health.

Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos)

Babajide Sanwo-Olu (the so-called incident commander), the governor in the eye of the storm of the COVID-19 pandemic, was said to have caught the virus on December 12, 2020. He was cured on December 24, just in time to eat Christmas chicken.

Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia)

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu tested positive in June 2020; he pronounced healthy on July 3.

Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti)

Governor Kayode Fayemi tested positive on July 22, 2020. He spent 11 days in isolation.

David Umahi (Ebonyi)

Ebonyi Governor David Umahi tested positive for COVID-19 on July 4. By the end of July, his status became negative.

Samuel Ortom (Benue)

Governor Samuel Ortom tested positive for COVID-19 on January 27, 2021. He recovered on February 3, 2021.