The 1979 Gongola State gubernatorial election occurred on July 28, 1979. GNPP's Abubakar Barde won election for a first term to become Gongola State's first executive governor leading with 47.6%, defeating main opposition NPN's candidate, Ahmed Mahmudu Ribadu, who polled 34.6% in the contest. Abubakar Barde emerged GNPP's flag bearer after defeating his closest contestant, Wilberforce Juta, who later became his running mate, at the party primary election by a margin of just three votes.