History:
- Sokoto and Borno Caliphate forces defeated by British imperial force, Amir al-Muminun Attahiru killed, 1903. Northern and Southern Protectorates almagamated 1914 creating Nigeria
- Independence from Britain, 1960.
- Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Prime Minister,1960-1966; civilian government overthrown in a bloody coup by Ibo officers, along with Muslim/Northern military and political leaders.
- Major General Aguiyi Ironsi,1966-1967; killed when military regime was ousted in a revenge counter-coup.
- Lt Colonel Yakubu Gowon [now retired General],1967-1975; military regime overthrown in a bloodless coup on charges of corruption.
- Brigadier [later General] Murtala Ramat Muhammad,1975-1976; assassinated during abortive coup by Gowon's supporters; military regime continued under General Olusegun Obasanjo, 1976-1979 handing over power to civilians.
- Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari, 1979- 1983; first executive president, presidential constitution suspended in a bloodless military coup on charges of corruption as he commenced a second four year term.
- General Muhammadu Buhari, 1983 - August 1985; military regime's anti-corruption and self-reliant economic policy drew ire of domestic and foreign opposition, overthrown in a palace coup.
- General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida,1985-1992; military regime botched transition program by annulling 12 June 1992 elections, forced to "step aside".
- Chief Earnest Shonekan,1992-1993; former conglomerate chief as head of an Interim National Government [ING], overthrown in a bloodless coup by defense minister who was the only soldier in the cabinet.
- General Mohammed Sani Abacha, 1983-1998; former defence minister in ING, initiated a farcical transtion to civil rule program meant to "civilianise" his regime, died 8 June 1998.
- General Abubakar Abdulslami, 1998-May 1999; former chief of defence staff made handover of power to civilians cardinal program of his military regime .
- Chief Olusegun
Obasanjo [retired General] May 1999 - ; former head of state and
second executive president; sworn-in to lead the fourth Republic.
Made the restoration of Nigeria's glory, public services and fight
against corruption his goals .
Executive branch:
Head of state: Chairman of the National Executive Council, National Council of state and Commander in Chief of Armed Forces, President Olusegun Obasanjo.
The executive President is both the chief of state and head of government
Elections: Local councillors and chairmen elected 5 December, 1998; state legistlature and gubernatorial on 9 January, 1999; national assembly 20 February, 1999 and presidential 27 February, 1999.
Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly, comprising a 109-member Senate and a 360-member House of Representatives; subect to constitutional amendment.
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges appointed by the Provisional Ruling Council; Federal Court of Appeal, judges are appointed by the federal government on the advice of the Advisory Judicial Committee
Political parties and leaders: political party system, which was suspended after the military takeover of 17 November 1993, was reestablished by the Provisional Ruling Council on 30 September 1996 with the registration of five of 15 competing political parties; these were the United Nigeria Congress Party or UNCP [Isa MOHAMMED, chairman]; National Center Party of Nigeria or NCPN [Magaji ABDULLAHI, chairman]; Grassroots Democratic Movement or GDM [Alhaji Gambo LAWAN, chairman]; Committee for National Consensus or CNC [Barnabas GEMADE, chairman]; Democratic Party of Nigeria of DPN [Saleh HASSAN, chairman]. The parties were all controlled by General Abacha and they nominated him as the sole candidate for the 1998 presidential elections.
Following General Abacha's death the parties were abolished as undemocratic; new parties were registered - Peoples Democratic Party or PDP [ Solomon LAR, chairman], All Peoples party or APP [ Mahmud WAZIRI, chairman], Alliance for Democracy or AD [ Ayo Adebanjo]