List Of Nigeria Presidents and Military Rulers Since Independence

Nnamdi Azikiwe

– First Republic (1963-1966) –
Nigeria elects a new president on Saturday. Here is a list of former heads of state and military rulers since independence from Britain in 1960:
Queen Elizabeth II was head of state from October 1, 1960 to the same date in 1963 and ruled with a governor-general and prime minister until a republic was declared in 1963.

Nnamdi AZIKIWE (president, ceremonial; prime minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa): Oct 1, 1963 to Jan 16, 1966 (overthrown).


– Military rule (1966-1979) –
General Johnson Thomas AGUIYI-IRONSI: Jan 16, 1966 to Jul 29, 1966 (overthrown).
General Yakubu GOWON: Jul 29, 1966 to Jul 29, 1975 (overthrown).
General Murtala MOHAMMED: Jul 29, 1975 to Feb 13, 1976 (assassinated).
General Olusegun OBASANJO: Feb 13, 1976 to Oct 1, 1979 (resigned).

Shehu Shagari

– Second republic (1979-1983) –
Shehu SHAGARI: Oct 1, 1979 to Dec 31, 1983 (overthrown).
– Military rule (1983-1993) –

General Muhammadu Buhari

Image by © William Campbell/Sygma/Corbis

General Muhammadu BUHARI: Dec 31, 1983 to Aug 27, 1985 (overthrown).
General Ibrahim BABANGIDA: Aug 27, 1985 to Aug 26, 1993 (resigned).
– Third republic (1993) –
Ernest SHONEKAN: Aug 26, 1993 to Nov 17, 1993 (overthrown).

Sani Abacha

– Military rule (1993-1999) –
General Sani ABACHA: Nov 17, 1993 to Jun 8, 1998 (died in office).
General Abdulsalami ABUBAKAR: Jun 8, 1998 to May 29, 1999 (resigned).

– Fourth republic (1999-present) –

President Goodluck Jonathan

Olusegun OBASANJO: May 29, 1999 to May 29, 2007.
Umaru Musa YAR’ADUA: May 29, 2007 to May 5, 2010 (died in office).
Goodluck JONATHAN: May 5, 2010 to date.