List of heads of state of Nigeria

This is a list of the heads of state of Nigeria, from Nigeria's independence in 1960 to the present day. Nigeria became a federal republic under the Constitution of 1963 and the monarch and Governor-General were replaced by a ceremonial President.

Nigeria
This article is part of a series on the
politics and government of
Nigeria
Constitution
Government
National Assembly
Judiciary
Subdivisions
Elections
Foreign relations
 Nigeria portal

In 1979, under the 1979 Constitution, the President gained executive powers, becoming head of both state and government. Since 1994, under the 1993 Constitution and the current 1999 Constitution, the head of state and government has been called the President.[1]

Monarchy (1960–1963)

Monarch
Main article: Queen of Nigeria

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

Queen Reign Royal House Prime Minister
No. Portrait Name
(birth–death)		 Start End Duration
1 Elizabeth II
(born 1926)		 1 October 1960 1 October 1963 3 years Windsor Abubakar Tafawa Balewa

Governor-General
Standard of the Governor-General of Nigeria

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
No. Portrait Name
(birth–death)		 Took office Left office Time in office
1 Sir James Robertson
(1899–1983)		 1 October 1960 16 November 1960 46 days Elizabeth II Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa
(1912–1966)
2 Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe
(1904–1996)		 16 November 1960 1 October 1963 2 years, 319 days Elizabeth II Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa
(1912–1966)

First Republic (1963–1966)

Under the 1963 Constitution, the first constitution of the 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
No. Portrait Name
(birth–death)		 Took office Left office Time in office
1 Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe
(1904–1996)		 1 October 1963 16 January 1966 2 years, 107 days National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons Abubakar Tafawa Balewa
(1912–1966)

Military rule (1966–1979)

In 1966, Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu led a bloody coup d'état in 1966 which overthrew the First Nigerian Republic, assassinating Premier Ahmadu Bello and Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa.

Head of state Term of office Military
No. Portrait Name
(birth–death)		 Took office Left office Time in office
2 Major General
Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi
(1924–1966)		 16 January 1966 29 July 1966
(assassinated.)		 194 days Federal Military Government
3 General
Yakubu Gowon
(born 1934)		 1 August 1966 29 July 1975
(deposed.)		 8 years, 362 days Federal Military Government
4 General
Murtala Mohammed
(1938–1976)		 29 July 1975 13 February 1976
(assassinated.)		 199 days Federal Military Government
5 Major general
Olusegun Obasanjo
(born 1937)		 13 February 1976 1 October 1979
(resigned.)		 3 years, 258 days Federal Military Government

Second Republic (1979–1983)

Under the 1979 Constitution, the second constitution of the Republic of Nigeria, the President was head of both state and government. The President was elected by 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 Elected
No. Portrait Name
(birth–death)		 Took office Left office Time in office
6 Alhaji Shehu Shagari
(1925–2018)		 1 October 1979 31 December 1983
(deposed.)		 4 years, 91 days National Party of Nigeria 1979
1983

Military rule (1983–1993)

Major-General Muhammadu Buhari led a coup d'état which overthrew President Shagari and his government.

Head of state Term of office Military
No. Portrait Name
(birth–death)		 Took office Left office Time in office
7 Major General
Muhammadu Buhari
(born 1942)		 31 December 1983 27 August 1985
(deposed.)		 1 year, 239 days Supreme Military Council
8 General
Ibrahim Babangida
(born 1941)		 27 August 1985 26 August 1993
(resigned.)		 7 years, 364 days Armed Forces Ruling Council

Interim National Government (1993)

Following the annulment of the 1993 Nigerian presidential election which terminated the transition to the Third Nigerian Republic, Babangida resigned from office in August of 1993. He signed a decree establishing the Interim National Government led by Chief Ernest Shonekan. Babangida made the interim government weak by placing it under the control of the military.

President Term of office Political party
(at time of start of term)
No. Portrait Name
(birth–death)		 Took office Left office Time in office
9 Chief Ernest Shonekan
(born 1936)		 26 August 1993 17 November 1993
(deposed.)		 83 days Independent

Military rule (1993–1999)

In November 1993, General Sani Abacha overthrew the interim government, and ruled the country with an iron fist. In 1998, following Abacha's death, General Abdulsalami Abubakar became head of state and ushered in the Fourth Nigerian Republic.

Head of state Term of office Military
No. Portrait Name
(birth–death)		 Took office Left office Time in office
10 General
Sani Abacha
(1943–1998)		 17 November 1993 8 June 1998
(died in office.)		 4 years, 203 days Provisional Ruling Council
11 General
Abdulsalami Abubakar
(born 1942)		 8 June 1998 29 May 1999
(resigned.)		 355 days Provisional Ruling Council

Fourth Republic (1999–present)

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.

Status
  Denotes Vice President acting as President
President Term of office Political party Elected
No. Portrait Name Took office Left office Time in office
12 Chief Olusegun Obasanjo
(born 1937)		 29 May 1999 29 May 2007 8 years People's Democratic Party 1999
2003
13 Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar'Adua
(1951–2010)		 29 May 2007 5 May 2010[2]

(died in office.)

 2 years, 341 days People's Democratic Party 2007
14 Dr. Goodluck Jonathan
(born 1957)		 5 May 2010 29 May 2015 5 years, 25 days People's Democratic Party 2011
15 Muhammadu Buhari
(born 1942)		 29 May 2015 Incumbent 5 years, 254 days All Progressives Congress 2015
2019

Living former heads of state
Name Term/Reign Office Date of birth
Elizabeth II 1960–1963 Queen of Nigeria (1926-04-21) April 21, 1926
Yakubu Gowon 1966–1975 Military ruler (1934-10-19) October 19, 1934
Olusegun Obasanjo 1976–1979

1999–2007

 Military ruler

President of Nigeria

 (1937-03-05) March 5, 1937
Muhammadu Buhari 1983–1985

2015–present

 Military ruler

President of Nigeria

 (1942-12-17) December 17, 1942
Ibrahim Babangida 1985–1993 Military ruler (1941-08-17) August 17, 1941
Ernest Shonekan 1993 Interim president (1936-05-09) May 9, 1936
Abdulsalami Abubakar 1998–1999 Military ruler (1942-06-13) June 13, 1942
Goodluck Jonathan 2010–2015 President of Nigeria (1957-11-20) November 20, 1957

Notes

    References
    1. "Past Presidents & Heads of State". StateHouse, Federal Republic of Nigeria.
    2. Goodluck Jonathan was Acting President from 9 February to 5 May 2010
    This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.