On November 3, 2006, Dame Virginia Ngozi Etiaba was sworn in as Governor of Anambra State, making history as the first female governor in Nigeria.
Etiaba, who was 64 years old at the time, assumed office following the impeachment of Governor Peter Obi by the Anambra State House of Assembly over allegations of gross misconduct.
Obi, who had assumed office on March 17, 2006, was impeached on November 2, 2006, barely seven months after his swearing-in. By constitutional provision, his deputy, Etiaba, was elevated to the position of substantive governor.
A native of Nnewi and proprietress of Bennet Etiaba Memorial Schools before venturing into politics, Etiaba was chosen as running mate to Obi under the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
Her swearing-in was described as groundbreaking, as Nigeria had never had a female governor since independence.
She served for three months before voluntarily handing over power to Peter Obi on February 9, 2007, after the Court of Appeal sitting in Enugu nullified the impeachment and reinstated him.
With her peaceful transfer of power, Etiaba also made history as the first Nigerian governor to willingly relinquish office without resistance.
