Political Leaders of Nigeria

Leaders of Nigeria
(Federal Republic of Nigeria)

Note: since the independence on 1 Oct 1960 to the proclamation of the Republic on 1 Oct 1963, the head of the State was the British monarch (Queen Elizabeth II), represented by a Governor-General.

Parties: NCNC: National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons; NPN: National Party of Nigeria; PDP: People's Democratic Party; NPC: Northern People's Congress; n/p: non-party

Heads of State

Governors-General
James Wilson Robertson  15 Jun 1955 - 16 Nov 1960 (+1983)  n/p
Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe  1 Oct 1960 -  1 Oct 1963 (+1996)  NCNC 

President of the Republic
Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe  1 Oct 1963 - 16 Jan 1966 (+1996)  NCNC

Heads of the Supreme Military Council
Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi   16 Jan 1966 - 29 Jul 1966 (+)a     military 
Yakubu Gowon             1 Aug 1966 - 29 Jul 1975          military  
Murtala Ramat Mohammed  29 Jul 1975 - 13 Feb 1976 (+)a     military 
Olusegun Obasanjo       14 Feb 1976 -  1 Oct 1979          military

President of the Republic 
Shehu Shagari            1 Oct 1979 - 31 Dec 1983          NPN 

Heads of the Supreme Military Council
Muhammadu Buhari        31 Dec 1983 - 27 Aug 1985          military
Ibrahim Babangida       27 Aug 1985 - 26 Aug 1993          military

Head of the Interim National Government
Ernest Shonekan         26 Aug 1993 - 17 Nov 1993          n/p

Heads of the Supreme Military Council
Sani Abacha             17 Nov 1993 -  8 Jun 1998 (+)      military
Abdulsalam Abubakar      9 Jun 1998 - 29 May 1999          military

President of the Republic
Olusegun Obasanjo       29 May 1999 -  29 May 2007         PDP  
Umaru Musa Yar'Adua     29 May 2007 -                      PDP

Prime Minister

Abubakar Tafawa Balewa  30 Aug 1957 - 15 Jan 1966 (+)a    NPC