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This is a list of the heads of state of Nigeria, from the independence of Federation of Nigeria in 1960 to the present day.
Contents
- Monarchs 19601963
- Governors General
- First Republic 19631966
- Military rule 19661979
- Second Republic 19791983
- Military rule 19831993
- Third Republic 1993
- Military rule 19931999
- Fourth Nigerian Republic
- References
From 1960 to 1963 the head of state under the Nigeria Independence Act 1960 was the Queen of Nigeria, Elizabeth II, who was also monarch of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms. The Queen was represented in Nigeria by a Governor-General. Nigeria became a republic under the Constitution of 1963 and the monarch and Governor-General were replaced by a ceremonial President. 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.
Monarchs (1960–1963)
The succession to the throne was the same as the succession to the British throne.
Governors-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. After the passage of 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. In the event of a vacancy the Chief Justice would have served as Officer Administering the Government.
First Republic (1963–1966)
Under the 1963 Constitution, the first constitution of the Republic of Nigeria, the President replaced the monarch as ceremonial head of state. 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.
Military rule (1966–1979)
Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu led a coup d'état in 1966 which overthrew President Azikiwe and his 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.
Military rule (1983–1993)
Major-General Muhammadu Buhari led a coup d'état which overthrew President Shagari and his government.
Third Republic (1993)
The Third Republic was the planned republican government of Nigeria in 1993 which was to be governed by the Third Republican constitution.
The constitution of the Third Republic was drafted in 1989, when General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), the military Head of State, promised to terminate military rule by 1990 – a date which was subsequently pushed back to 1993. IBB lifted the ban on political activity in the spring of 1989, and his government established two political parties: the center-right National Republican Convention (NRC) and the center-left Social Democratic Party (SDP). Gubernatorial and state legislative elections were conducted in December 1991, while the presidential election was postponed till 12 June 1993 – due to political unrest. M. K. O. Abiola, a wealthy Yoruba businessman, won a decisive victory in the presidential elections on the SDP platm.
Military rule (1993–1999)
General Sani Abacha led a coup d'état which overthrew President Shonekan and his government.
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.