Edo State was created in 1991 from Bendel State, the product of the 1976 amalgamation of Benin province and Delta province of the old Western Region of Nigeria. Edo and Delta States were the Mid-West prior to the creation of Bendel State. The state has an elected executive administration headed by the Edo State governor whose office is in the Government Reservation Area (GRA) in Benin City.

Capital of Edo State: Benin City

Edo State Postal Code/Zip Code: 300001

The state has eighteen Local government Areas and a unicameral legislative Edo State House of  Assembly comprised of twenty four members representing various constituencies. Edo State Local Government Areas are Akoko-Edo, Egor, Esan Central, Esan North-East, Esan South-West, Esan West, Etsako Central, Etsako East, Etsako West, Igueben, Ikpoba-Okha, Oredo, Orhionmwon, Ovia North-East, Ovia South-West, Owan East, Owan West and Uhunmwonde.

The national assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has twelve delegates from Edo State: three senators representing three senatorial districts (Edo Central, Edo North and Edo South) and nine representatives from the eighteen local government areas. 

There are five Local Government Areas in Edo Central senatorial district: Esan Central, Esan North East, Esan South East, Esan West and Igueben LGAs. Edo North has six Local Government Areas: Akoko-Edo, Etsako Central, Etsako East, Etsako West, Owan East and Owan West. And seven local government areas are categorized under Edo South senatorial district: Egor, Ikpoba Okha, Oredo, Orhionmwon, Ovia North-East, Ovia South-West and Uhunmwonde. 

Each Edo State delegate to the Federal House of Representative is elected by one of the nine categories of the eighteen local government areas: Akoko-Edo, Egor/Ikpoba Okha, Esan Central/Esan West/Igueben, Esan North-East/Esan South East, Etsako East/Etsako West/Etsako Central, Oredo, Orhionmwon/Uhunmwonde, Ovia South-West/Ovia North-East and Owan West/Owan East.

Major ethnic groups in Edo State are Afemai, Akoko Igala, Edo, Esan and Owan.

Examples of fmous people of Edo State origin are Victor James Osimhen, Divine Okubor (Rema) and Martins Vincent Otse (VDM or VeryDarkMan).