Complete List Of Senate Presidents of Nigeria From 1960 Till Date

Complete List Of Senate Presidents of Nigeria From 1960 Till Date

This is a comprehensive list of individuals who have held the position of Senate President in Nigeria from its independence in 1960 to the present day with their political party affiliation.

No.	Name	Terms Served	Party
1	Nnamdi Azikiwe	1960 - 1963	NCNC
2	Dennis Osadebay	1963 - 1966	NCNC
3	Nwafor Orizu	1966	NNDP
4	Joseph Wayas	1979 - 1983	NPN
5	Iyorchia Ayu	1983	NPN
6	Ameh Ebute	1983 - 1985	NPN
7	Evan Enwerem	1985 - 1987	NPN
8	Chuba Okadigbo	1987 - 1993	NRC
9	Anyim Pius Anyim	1999 - 2000	PDP
10	Adolphus Wabara	2000 - 2003	PDP
11	Ken Nnamani	2003 - 2005	PDP
12	David Mark	2005 - 2015	PDP
13	Bukola Saraki	2015 - 2019	APC
14	Ahmad Lawan	2019 - 2023	APC
15	Godswill Akpabio	2023 - Present	APC

First Republic (1960 – 1966)

Nigeria’s First Republic, spanning from independence in 1960 to the military coup of 1966, saw the appointment of only one Senate President.

Nnamdi Azikiwe, a respected figure in Nigerian history, held this position throughout the entirety of the First Republic.

Azikiwe was a prominent leader in the nationalist movement that secured Nigeria’s independence from British rule. He previously served as the country’s first indigenous Governor-General from 1960 to 1963.

Nnamdi Azikiwe played a key role in shaping Nigeria’s political landscape. His tenure as Senate President during the nation’s formative years helped lay the groundwork for the development of the Nigerian Senate.

The military coup of 1966 was the end of the First Republic and the beginning of a period of military rule in Nigeria. During this period (1966-1979), the Senate was dissolved, and the position of Senate President became bygone.

Military Rule (1966 – 1979)

Nigeria’s transition from civilian rule to a military dictatorship began with a coup d’état in 1966. This period of military dominance lasted for thirteen years, witnessing several leadership changes, with different military figures assuming control.

Here’s a brief of some of the key leaders:

Major General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi (1966): Aguiyi-Ironsi, a military officer, initially led the post-coup government. However, his rule was short-lived, lasting only six months. He was overthrown and assassinated in a counter-coup later in 1966.
General Yakubu Gowon (1966-1975): Following Aguiyi-Ironsi’s removal, General Gowon emerged as the leader. His tenure was denoted by the Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970), a brutal conflict that significantly impacted the nation.
General Murtala Mohammed (1975-1976): In a bloodless coup in 1975, General Mohammed assumed power from Gowon. His focus was on addressing corruption and initiating reforms. However, his rule was tragically cut short by an assassination attempt in 1976.
General Olusegun Obasanjo (1976-1979): Following Mohammed’s assassination, General Obasanjo, a close confidante, became the head of state. He oversaw a period of transition towards civilian rule with a return to democracy in 1979.

Second Republic (1979 – 1983)

Following a period of military rule, Nigeria returned to democracy in 1979 to begin the Second Republic. This change saw the re-establishment of the Nigerian Senate as a key legislative body.

The position of Senate President also regained prominence, with a new leader elected to preside over the Senate. Joseph Wayas, a politician from Cross River State, became the first Senate President of the Second Republic in 1979.

His tenure coincided with the administration of President Shehu Shagari, also of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN). The Second Republic Senate also played a major part in shaping legislation during this period.

Some key areas of focus likely included:

Rebuilding democratic institutions after military rule.
Addressing social and economic challenges facing the nation.
Contributing to the development of a strong and independent legislature.

However, the Second Republic was short-lived. Another military coup in 1983 brought an end to this term of civilian rule.

Subsequent Military Regimes (1983 – 1999)

After the 1983 military coup that ended the Second Republic, Nigeria entered another period of military rule that lasted until 1999. This course saw several leadership changes, with different military figures holding power.

As with the previous period of military rule, the Nigerian Senate was dissolved in 1983, meaning the legislative body ceased to function, and the position of Senate President became defunct once again.

The military governments ruled by decree, bypassing the democratic processes that typically involve a Senate. This extended period of military dominance seriously impacted Nigeria’s political development.

However, understanding this context is important for appreciating the eventual return to civilian rule in 1999 and the subsequent re-establishment of the Senate with its elected leader, the Senate President.

Military Leaders During This Period:

General Muhammadu Buhari (1983-1985): General Buhari led the initial military government following the 1983 coup. His focus was on addressing corruption and economic issues.
General Ibrahim Babangida (1985-1993): A coup led by General Babangida in 1985 ushered in a new era of military rule. His tenure was marked by efforts towards economic reform and a promised transition to democracy, though ultimately delayed.
General Sani Abacha (1993-1998): General Abacha seized power from Babangida in 1993, annulling a supposedly free and fair election. His rule was seen as human rights abuses.
General Abdulsalami Abubakar (1998-1999): General Abubakar took over after Abacha’s sudden death in 1998. He oversaw a peaceful transition back to civilian rule in 1999.

Fourth Republic (1999 – Present)

Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999 ushered in the Fourth Republic to start a new era for the country’s political landscape.

The Senate was re-established as a strong legislative body, and the position of Senate President regained its value. Here’s a list of the Senate Presidents who have served since the Fourth Republic’s inception:

Name	Political Party	Years in Office	Notes
Anyim Pius Anyim	PDP	1999 - 2000	First Senate President of the Fourth Republic
Chuba Okadigbo	APP	2000 - 2000	Shortest tenure as Senate President (died in office)
Evan Enwerem	APP	2000	Acting Senate President
Adolphus Wabara	PDP	2000 - 2003
Ken Nnamani	PDP	2003 - 2005
David Mark	PDP	2005 - 2015	Longest-serving Senate President (two terms)
Bukola Saraki	APC	2015 - 2019	First Senate President not born in Nigeria (London)
Ahmad Lawan	APC	2019 - 2023
Godswill Akpabio	APC	2023 - Present	Current Senate President

David Mark stands out for his record-breaking tenure as Senate President, serving from 2005 to 2015.

Reference Sources:

Nigerian Leaders