John Atom Kpera (born 3 January 1941) was the first Military Governor of Anambra State in Nigeria from March 1976 to July 1978, after it had been created from the old East Central State during the military regime of General Olusegun Obasanjo.

[2][3] John Atom Kpera was born on 3 January 1941 in Mbatierev, Gboko Local Government Area in what is now Benue State.

[4] He played a role in Nigeria's first military coup on 15 January 1966, helping Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu in an attempt to overthrow the Northern Region government.

The coup did not succeed in its aims, but led to Major-General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi assuming power in the first Nigerian military government.

[6] He initiated a policy of forcing the people to clean their environment under the supervision of soldiers, a practice that was maintained by his successors.