President of Nigeria

The president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is the head of

President of the
state and head of government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The president directs the executive branch of the federal Federal Republic of
government and is the commander-in-chief of the Nigerian Armed Nigeria
Forces.

The offices, powers, and titles of the head of state and the head of
government were officially merged into the office of the
presidency under the 1979 Constitution of Nigeria.
Seal of the President
Executive power is vested in the president. The power includes the
execution and enforcement of federal law and the responsibility to
appoint federal executive, diplomatic, regulatory, and judicial
officers. Based on constitutional provisions empowering the
president to appoint and receive ambassadors and conclude treaties
Presidential flag
with foreign powers, and on subsequent laws enacted by the
House, the presidency has primary responsibility for conducting
foreign policy.

The president also plays a leading role in federal legislation and

domestic policymaking. As part of the system of checks and
balances, the Constitution gives the president the power to sign or
veto federal legislation.

The president is directly elected in national elections to a four-year

term, along with the vice president.

Muhammadu Buhari is the 15th and current president of Nigeria,

having assumed office on 29 May 2015.[2]

Incumbent

Contents Muhammadu Buhari

since 29 May 2015

History
Eligibility Executive Branch of the Federal
Government
Oath of office
Executive Office of the President
Living former presidents
Style Mr. President
Presidents by time in office
His Excellency
Residence
Type Head of state
See also
Head of government
References
Member of Federal Executive
Council
History National Security
Council
On 1 October 1960, Nigeria gained independence from Britain. National Defence
An all-Nigerian Executive Council was headed by a Prime Council
minister, Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa. On 16 November
Residence Aso Villa
1960, Nnamdi Azikiwe became the first governor-general of a
federation of three regions of the north, east and west, with Lagos Seat Abuja, F.C.T.
as the Federal Capital. Each of the regions was headed by a Appointer Direct popular
premier with a governor as ceremonial head. The governors and election or via
governor-general represented the Queen of Nigeria, Elizabeth II.
succession from vice
On 1 October 1963, Nigeria became a Federal Republic thereby
presidency
abolishing its monarchy, but remained a member of the
Commonwealth of Nations. An amendment to the 1960 Term length Four years,
Independence Constitution replaced the office of the governor- renewable once
general with that of the president. Nnamdi Azikwe was sworn into Constituting Constitution of
that office on 1 October 1963.[3] The office at that time was instrument Nigeria
primarily ceremonial, and the main duties of the president were on
such things as receiving foreign dignitaries and opening Formation 1 October 1963
Parliament. First holder Nnamdi Azikiwe
Deputy Vice President of
In a January 1966 failed coup d'état, a group of army officers, led
by Major Chukwuma Nzeogwu, overthrew the central and Nigeria
regional governments, killed the prime minister Abubakar Tafawa Salary ₦30,000,000
Balewa, and tried to take control of the government. Nzeogwu annually[1]
was countered, captured, and imprisoned by General Johnson
Website www.statehouse.gov
Aguiyi-Ironsi. General Aguiyi-Ironsi was named Military Head of
.ng (http://www.state
State.
house.gov.ng)
In July 1966, a group of northern army officers revolted against
the government, killed General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, and
appointed the army chief of staff, General Yakubu Gowon as
the head of the new military government.

In 1975, General Yakubu Gowon was deposed and General

Murtala Mohammed was the head of the Federal Military
Government of Nigeria until his assassination in 1976. On his Former standard of the President
death, the chief-of-staff, Supreme Headquarters (equivalent to a
vice-president) general Olusegun Obasanjo assumed office of
head of state in a meeting of the Supreme Military Council, keeping the chain of command established by
Murtala Muhammed in place. Gen. Obasanjo was responsible for completing the democratic transition
begun by his predecessor, which culminated in an election in August 1979.

In 1979, Nigeria adopted a federal presidential constitution. The presidency became an executive post, with
powers similar to those of its American counterpart. The legislature was a bicameral National Assembly,
comprising a Senate and House of Representatives.

In October 1979, after more than 13 years of military rule, Nigeria returned to democratic rule. The
National Party of Nigeria emerged victorious in the presidential election and Alhaji Shehu Shagari became
the first democratically elected president.

On 31 December 1983, the military overthrew the Second Republic. Major General Muhammadu Buhari
emerged as the chairman of the Supreme Military Council (SMC), the new head of state.
In August 1985, General Buhari's government was peacefully overthrown by the Army chief of staff,
Major General Ibrahim Babangida. Babangida became the president and chairman of the Armed Forces
Ruling Council.

In August 1993, General Babangida stepped down and chose an interim government to replace him. Ernest
Shonekan was named as interim president. General Sani Abacha seized power from Shonekan in
November 1993 and became the president and chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council.

On 8 June 1998, General Abacha died at the presidential villa in the Nigerian capital, Abuja.[4][5][6][7] [8][9]
Major General Abdulsalami Abubakar became the new president and chairman of the Provisional Ruling
Council.[10][11][9][12]

On 29 May 1999 Major General Abdulsalami Abubakar stepped down,[13] and the former military head of
state, Olusegun Obasanjo, became the civilian president. Obasanjo served two terms in office.

In May 2007, Alhaji Umaru Yar'Adua was sworn in as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the
13th head of state of Nigeria.[14][15][16] Yar'Adua died on 5 May, 2010 in the presidential villa, in Abuja,
Nigeria.[17][18][19][20][21][22][23]

On 6 May 2010 Vice President Goodluck Jonathan was sworn in as President of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria and the 14th head of state.[24][25][26][27][28][29]

On 29 May 2015 Muhammadu Buhari was sworn in as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and
the 15th head of state after winning the general election.[30][31][32][33][34][35]

Eligibility
Chapter VI, Part I, Section 131 of the constitution states that a person may be qualified for election of the
office of the president if:[36]

They are a citizen of Nigeria by birth;

They have attained the age of 35 years;
They are a member of a political party and is sponsored by that political party;
They have been educated up to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent.

A person who meets the above qualifications is still disqualified from holding the office of the president if:

They have voluntarily acquired the citizenship of a country other than Nigeria (except in
such cases as may be prescribed by the National Assembly) or they have made a
declaration of allegiance to such other country;
They have been elected to such office at any two previous elections;
Under the law in any part of Nigeria, they are adjudged to be a lunatic or otherwise declared
to be of unsound mind;
They are under a sentence of death imposed by any competent court of law or tribunal in
Nigeria or a sentence of imprisonment or fine for any offence involving dishonesty or fraud or
for any other offence, imposed on them by any court or tribunal or substituted by a competent
authority for any other sentence imposed on them by such a court of tribunal;
Within a period of less than ten years before the date of the election to the office of President
they have been convicted and sentenced for an offence involving dishonesty or they have
been found guilty of the contravention of the Code of Conduct;
 They are an undischarged bankrupt, having been adjudged or otherwise declared bankrupt
under any law in force in Nigeria or any other country;
Being a person employed in the civil or public service of the Federation or of any State, they
have not resigned, withdrawn or retired from the employment at least thirty days before the
date of the election; or
They are a member of any secret society;
They have been indicted for embezzlement or fraud by a Judicial Commission of Inquiry or
an Administrative Panel of Inquiry or a Tribunal set up under the Tribunals of Inquiry Act, a
Tribunals of Inquiry law or any other law by the federal or state government which indictment
has been accepted by the federal or state government respectively;
They have presented a forged certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Oath of office
The Constitution of Nigeria specifies an oath of office for the president of the federation. The oath is
administered by the chief justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria or the person for the time being appointed
to exercise the functions of that office:[37]

I do solemnly swear/affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to the Federal
Republic of Nigeria; that as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I will discharge my
duties to the best of my ability, faithfully and in accordance with the Constitution of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria and the law, and always in the interest of the sovereignty,
integrity, solidarity, well-being and prosperity of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; that I will
strive to preserve the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy
contained in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; that I will not allow my
personal interest to influence my official conduct or my official decisions; that I will to the best
of my ability preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria;
that I will abide by the Code of Conduct contained in the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution of
the Federal Republic of Nigeria; that in all circumstances, I will do right to all manner of
people, according to law, without fear or favour, affection or ill-will; that I will not directly or
indirectly communicate or reveal to any person any matter which shall be brought under my
consideration or shall become known to me as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,
except as may be required for the due discharge of my duties as President; and that I will
devote myself to the service and well-being of the people of Nigeria. So help me God.

Living former presidents

As of 2022, there are five living former presidents: Yakubu Gowon, Olusegun Obasanjo, Ibrahim
Babangida, Abdulsalami Abubakar, and Goodluck Jonathan.


Yakubu Gowon
Olusegun Ibrahim Abdulsalami
(1966–1975)
Obasanjo
Babangida
Abubakar

19 October 1934 (1976–1979)

(1985–1993)
(1998–1999)

(1999–2007)
17 August 1941 13 June 1942
5 March 1937

Goodluck
Jonathan

(2010–2015)

20 November
1957

The most recent death of a former president was Ernest Shonekan (served from August to November
1993), on 11 January 2022 aged 85.

Presidents by time in office

This is a list of each president in order of term length. This is based on the difference between dates; if
counted by number of calendar days, all the figures would be one greater except for Olusegun Obasanjo
and Muhammadu Buhari who would have two more days, as they served on two non-consecutive periods.

Of the 13 presidents, only two, Olusegun Obasanjo and Muhammadu Buhari, served for multiple periods.
Olusegun Obasanjo is the
longest-serving president of
Nigeria

Yakubu Gowon served for

the longest continuous
period

Ernest Shonekan served for

the shortest period of just 83
days
 Muhammadu Buhari is the
current president

Longest
Total time Cause of end
Rank President Political party continuous Periods
in office of term
term
Resignation /
Olusegun Military / People's 11 years,
1 8 years, 0 days 2 Natural
Obasanjo Democratic Party 230 days
expiration
Muhammadu Military / All Progressives 7 years, 9 years, Deposed / In
2 2
Buhari Congress 171 days 45 days office
Yakubu 8 years, 8 years,
3 Military 1 Deposed
Gowon 362 days 362 days
Ibrahim 7 years, 7 years,
4 Military 1 Resignation
Babangida 364 days 364 days
Goodluck 5 years, 5 years, Natural
5 People's Democratic Party 1
Jonathan 24 days 24 days expiration
4 years, 4 years,
6 Sani Abacha Military 1 Death
203 days 203 days
Shehu 4 years, 4 years,
7 National Party of Nigeria 1 Deposed
Shagari 91 days 91 days
Umaru Musa 2 years, 2 years,
8 People's Democratic Party 1 Death
Yar'Adua 341 days 341 days
Nnamdi National Council of Nigeria 2 years, 2 years,
9 1 Deposed
Azikiwe and the Cameroons 107 days 107 days
Abdulsalami
10 Military 355 days 355 days 1 Resignation
Abubakar
Murtala
11 Military 199 days 199 days 1 Assassinated
Muhammed
Johnson
12 Military 194 days 194 days 1 Assassinated
Aguiyi-Ironsi
Ernest
13 Independent 83 days 83 days 1 Deposed
Shonekan

Residence
The President of Nigeria lives and works in the Aso Rock Presidential Villa.
See also
List of governors and governors-general of Nigeria
List of heads of state of Nigeria
Nigerian presidential inauguration
Prime Minister of Nigeria
List of Nigerian presidents by age

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