Navy captain A.I.Onyearugbulem (August 7 1998 till May 29 1999)
Onyearugbulem left the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and declared his intention to run in 2003 for governor of Imo State on the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) platform.Later that year, Onyearugbulem died suddenly in a hotel room in Kaduna in somewhat mysterious circumstances. During his time as the Military Administrator of Edo State He enmeshed in acontroversy with the highly respected Oba of Benin.
Navy Captain Onyearugbulem suspended Oba of Benin for alleged partisanship in endorsing an APP governorship candidate. At a stage, some traditional priest in the Benin Kingdom threatened to launch spiritual warfare against his administration if he failed to apologise to the Oba of Benin. Onyearugbulem later apologised before he was eventually removed as administrator of the state.