List of heads of state of Nigeria

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Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. This is a list of the heads of state of Nigeria, from independence in 1960 to the present day. The current constitution of Nigeria has the president of Nigeria as the head of state and government.[1]

From 1960 to 1963, the head of state under the Constitution of 1960 was the queen of Nigeria, Elizabeth II who was also the queen of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms. The monarch was represented in Nigeria by a governor-general. Nigeria became a republic within the Commonwealth under the Constitution of 1963 and the monarch and governor-general were replaced by a ceremonial president. Nnamdi Azikiwe served as the only indigenous governor-general of Nigeria.

Since Nigeria became a republic in 1963, 13 individuals have served as head of state of Nigeria under different titles. While the incumbent president Muhammadu Buhari is the nation's 15th head of state, he served as the 7th head of state during a military regime between 1983 and 1985. Olusegun Obasanjo served as the 5th and 12th head of state, both served at non-consecutive periods in the office first as military personnels and then later as a civilians. The first ceremonial president, who served during the first republic was Nnamdi Azikiwe, while the first executive president of Nigeria was Shehu Shagari, he was also the first president to be elected to the position.[2]

The interim government of Ernest Shonekan who was deposed 83 days after taking office in 1993 is the shortest in Nigeria's history[3] not including the tenure of Sir James Robertson who served 46 days as governor-general immediately after independence. Aguiyi-Ironsi served 194 days in the office, the shortest for a permanent head of state. Murtala Muhammed served 199 days in the position. Yakubu Gowon served the longest continuous period of almost nine years before being deposed while he was away from the country in 1975.[4] Olusegun Obasanjo served the longest period for eleven years, two hundred and thirty days combined.[5]

Five heads of state were deposed in a military coup (Nnamdi Azikiwe, Yakubu Gowon, Shehu Shagari, Muhammadu Buhari and Ernest Shonekan). Four heads of state died in office, two were assassinated during a military coup (Aguiyi-Ironsi[6] and Murtala Muhammed),[7] while two died of natural causes (Sani Abacha and Umaru Musa Yar'Adua).[8] Three heads of state resigned, Olusegun Obasanjo and Abdulsalami Abubakar resigned after transition to democracy in 1979 and 1999 respectively, while Ibrahim Babangida was forced to resign after he annulled the 12 June 1993 presidential election in which SDP candidate MKO Abiola reportedly won.[9] Olusegun Obasanjo was the first vice president (as Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters) to become head of state when Murtala Muhammed was killed during the 1976 Nigerian coup d'état attempt,[10] while Goodluck Jonathan was the first democratic vice president to become head of state when Umaru Musa Yar'Adua died of Illness on 5 May 2010.[11]

Monarchy (1960–1963)

Monarch

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Main article: Monarchy of Nigeria (1960–1963)

The succession to the throne was the same as the succession to the British throne.

Queen Reign Royal house Prime minister Ref.
No. Portrait Name
(birth–death)		 Start End Duration
1 100px Elizabeth II
(1926–2022)		 1 October 1960 1 October 1963 Error: Need valid year, month, day years Windsor Abubakar Tafawa Balewa

Governor-general

The Governor-general was the representative of the monarch in Nigeria and exercised most of the powers of the monarch. The governor-general was appointed for an indefinite term, serving at the pleasure of the monarch. Since Nigeria was granted independence by the Nigeria Independence Act 1960, rather than being first established as a semi-autonomous Dominion and later promoted to independence by the Statute of Westminster 1931, the governor-general was appointed solely on the advice of the Nigerian cabinet without the involvement of the British government, with the sole of exception of James Robertson, the former colonial governor, who served as governor-general temporarily until he was replaced by Nnamdi Azikiwe. In the event of a vacancy the chief justice would have served as officer administering the government.

Governor-general Term of office Monarch Prime minister Ref.
No. Portrait Name
(birth–death)		 Took office Left office Time in office
1 No image.svg Sir James Robertson
(1899–1983)		 1 October 1960 16 November 1960 Lua error in Module:Age at line 846: attempt to call method 'subtract' (a nil value). Elizabeth II Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa
(1912–1966)
2 100px Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe
(1904–1996)		 16 November 1960 1 October 1963 Lua error in Module:Age at line 846: attempt to call method 'subtract' (a nil value).

Republic (1963–present)

First Republic (1963–1966)

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Main article: First Nigerian Republic

Under the 1963 Constitution, the first constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Nigeria ran the parliamentary system of government with a prime minister and the president replacing the monarch as ceremonial head of state. The prime minister was formed by the leader of the party that won the election. The first federal election was won by the Northern People's Congress led by Abubakar Tafawa Balewa. The president was elected by Parliament for a five-year term. In the event of a vacancy the president of the Senate would have served as acting president.

President Term of office Political party Prime minister Ref.
No. Portrait Name
(birth–death)		 Took office Left office Time in office
1 100px Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe
(1904–1996)		 1 October 1963 16 January 1966 Lua error in Module:Age at line 846: attempt to call method 'subtract' (a nil value). National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons Abubakar Tafawa Balewa
(1912–1966)

Military Government (1966–1979)

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Main article: Military dictatorship in Nigeria

Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu orchestrated the bloody military coup d'état of 1966 which overthrew the First Republic.

Head of state Term of office Military Ref.
No. Portrait Name
(birth–death)		 Took office Left office Time in office
2 No image.svg Major General
Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi
(1924–1966)		 16 January 1966 29 July 1966
(assassinated.)		 Lua error in Module:Age at line 846: attempt to call method 'subtract' (a nil value). Central Military Government
3 100px General
Yakubu Gowon
(born 1934)		 1 August 1966 29 July 1975
(deposed.)		 Lua error in Module:Age at line 846: attempt to call method 'subtract' (a nil value). Federal Military Government [12][13]
4 100px General
Murtala Mohammed
(1938–1976)		 29 July 1975 13 February 1976
(assassinated.)		 Lua error in Module:Age at line 846: attempt to call method 'subtract' (a nil value). [13][14]
5 Obasanjo 1978.gif General
Olusegun Obasanjo
(born 1937)		 13 February 1976 1 October 1979
(resigned.)		 Lua error in Module:Age at line 846: attempt to call method 'subtract' (a nil value).

Second Republic (1979–1983)

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Main article: Second Nigerian Republic

Under the 1979 Constitution, the second constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the President was both head of state and government. The president was elected for a four-year term. In the event of a vacancy the vice president would have served as acting president.

President Term of office Political party Cabinet Elected Ref.
No. Portrait Name
(birth–death)		 Took office Left office Time in office
6 100px Alhaji Shehu Shagari
(1925–2018)		 1 October 1979 31 December 1983
(deposed.)		 Lua error in Module:Age at line 846: attempt to call method 'subtract' (a nil value). National Party of Nigeria Shagari 1979
1983

Military Government (1983–1993)

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Main article: Military dictatorship in Nigeria

Major-General Muhammadu Buhari was made military head of state following the coup d'ètat of 1983, which overthrew the Second Republic.

Head of state/
President		 Term of office Military Ref.
No. Portrait Name
(birth–death)		 Took office Left office Time in office
7 100px Major General
Muhammadu Buhari
(born 1942)		 31 December 1983 27 August 1985
(deposed.)		 Lua error in Module:Age at line 846: attempt to call method 'subtract' (a nil value). Supreme Military Council
8 100px General
Ibrahim Babangida
(born 1941)		 27 August 1985 26 August 1993
(resigned.)		 Lua error in Module:Age at line 846: attempt to call method 'subtract' (a nil value). Armed Forces Ruling Council

Interim National Government (1993)

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Main article: Interim National Government

Chief Ernest Shonekan was made interim head of state of Nigeria following the crisis of the Third Republic.

Interim Head of State Term of office Political party
(at time of start of term)		 Ref.
No. Portrait Name
(birth–death)		 Took office Left office Time in office
9 100px Chief Ernest Shonekan
(1936–2022)		 26 August 1993 17 November 1993
(deposed.)		 Lua error in Module:Age at line 846: attempt to call method 'subtract' (a nil value). Independent

Military Government (1993–1999)

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Main article: Military dictatorship in Nigeria

General Sani Abacha led the palace coup d'ètat of 1993 which overthrew the Interim National Government.

Head of state Term of office Military Ref.
No. Portrait Name
(birth–death)		 Took office Left office Time in office
10 No image.svg General
Sani Abacha
(1943–1998)		 17 November 1993 8 June 1998
(died in office.)		 Lua error in Module:Age at line 846: attempt to call method 'subtract' (a nil value). Provisional Ruling Council
11 Abdulsalami Abubakar detail DF-SC-02-04323.jpg General
Abdulsalami Abubakar
(born 1942)		 8 June 1998 29 May 1999
(resigned.)		 Lua error in Module:Age at line 846: attempt to call method 'subtract' (a nil value).

Fourth Republic (1999–present)

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Main article: Fourth Nigerian Republic

Under the fourth Constitution of the Republic of Nigeria, the president is head of both state and government. The president is elected by for a four-year term. In the event of a vacancy the vice president serves as acting president.

President Term of office Political party Cabinet Elected Ref.
No. Portrait Name Took office Left office Time in office
12 Olusegun Obasanjo DD-SC-07-14396-cropped.jpg Chief Olusegun Obasanjo
(born 1937)		 29 May 1999 29 May 2007 Error: Need valid year, month, day years People's Democratic Party Obasanjo 1999
2003
13 YarAdua WEF 2008.jpg Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar'Adua
(1951–2010)		 29 May 2007 5 May 2010[lower-alpha 1]
(died in office)		 Lua error in Module:Age at line 846: attempt to call method 'subtract' (a nil value). People's Democratic Party Yar'Adua 2007
14 Goodluck Jonathan World Economic Forum 2013.jpg Dr. Goodluck Jonathan
(born 1957)		 5 May 2010 29 May 2015 Lua error in Module:Age at line 846: attempt to call method 'subtract' (a nil value). People's Democratic Party Jonathan I–II 2011 [15]
15 100px Muhammadu Buhari
(born 1942)		 29 May 2015 Incumbent Lua error in Module:Age at line 846: attempt to call method 'subtract' (a nil value). All Progressives Congress Buhari I–II 2015
2019		 [16]
16 100px Chief Bola Tinubu
(born 1952)		 29 May 2023 Designate Lua error in Module:Age at line 846: attempt to call method 'subtract' (a nil value). All Progressives Congress Tinubu 2023

Timeline

Standards

  • Flag of Governor-General of Federation of Nigeria.svg

    Governor-general's standard (1960–1963)

  • Presidential standard of Nigeria (1963–1966)

  • Presidential standard of Nigeria (Armed Forces)

  • Flag of the President of Nigeria.svg

    Presidential standard of Nigeria

Notes

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References

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External links

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  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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