The president of the Nigerian Senate is the presiding officer of the Senate of Nigeria, elected by its membership. The senate president is second in line of succession to the Nigerian presidency, after the vice president of Nigeria. The current president of the Senate is Godswill Akpabio since 13 June 2023.[1][2]
| President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria | |
|---|---|
 Seal of the Senate President of Nigeria | |
 | |
| Legislative Branch of the Federal Government | |
| Style | Mr President |
| Member of | Nigerian Senate National Assembly Commission |
| Seat | National Assembly Complex, Three Arms Zone, Abuja |
| Appointer | Indirect Senate Election |
| Term length | 4 years renewable |
| Constituting instrument | Constitution of Nigeria |
| Inaugural holder | Nnamdi Azikiwe |
| Formation | 1 January 1960 |
| Succession | Second |
| Deputy | Deputy President of the Senate |
Selection and succession to presidency
editThe senate president is chosen in an indirect election conducted within the senate, amongst the 109 members. The line of succession to the Nigerian presidency goes to the vice president, and then the senate president should both the president and vice president be unable to discharge the powers and duties of office.[3]
List of Nigerian Senate presidents
editFederation
edit| Senate President | Term of office | Political party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | ||
|
Nnamdi Azikiwe | 1 January 1960 | 1 October 1960 | National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons | |
| Dennis Osadebay | 1 October 1960 | 1 October 1963 | National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons | ||
First Republic
edit| Senate President | Term of office | Political party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | ||
| Nwafor Orizu | 1 October 1963 | 15 January 1966 | National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons | ||
Military Government
editThe Senate did not sit during this time.
Second Republic
edit| Senate President | Term of office | Political party | Elected | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | |||
|
Joseph Wayas | 1 October 1979 | 31 December 1983 | National Party of Nigeria | 1979 1983 | |
Military Government
editThe Senate did not sit during this time.
Third Republic
edit| Senate President | Term of office | Political party | Constituency | Elected | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | ||||
|
Iyorchia Ayu | 5 December 1992 | November 1993 | Social Democratic Party | Benue North-West | 1992 | |
|
|
Ameh Ebute | November 1993 | 17 November 1993 | Social Democratic Party | Benue South | 1993 | |
Military Government
editThe Senate did not sit during this time.
Fourth Republic
edit| Senate President | Term of office | Political party | Constituency | Elected | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | ||||
|
|
Evan Enwerem | 3 June 1999 | 18 November 1999 | People's Democratic Party | Imo East | 1999 | |
| Chuba Okadigbo | 18 November 1999 | 8 August 2000 | People's Democratic Party | Anambra North | 1999 | ||
|
|
Anyim Pius Anyim | 8 August 2000 | 3 June 2003 | People's Democratic Party | Ebonyi South | 2000 | |
|
|
Adolphus Wabara | 3 June 2003 | 5 April 2005 | People's Democratic Party | Abia South | 2003 | |
|
|
Ken Nnamani | 5 April 2005 | 5 June 2007 | People's Democratic Party | Enugu East | 2005 | |
|
|
David Mark | 5 June 2007 | 6 June 2015 | People's Democratic Party | Benue South | 2007 | |
| 2011 | |||||||
|
Bukola Saraki | 9 June 2015 | 9 June 2019 | All Progressives Congress to 2018 |
Kwara Central | 2015 | |
| People's Democratic Party from 2018 | |||||||
|
Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan | 11 June 2019 | 11 June 2023 | All Progressives Congress | Yobe North | 2019 | |
|
|
Godswill Akpabio | 13 June 2023 | Incumbent | All Progressives Congress | Akwa Ibom North-West | 2023 | |
Trivia
edit- Nwafor Orizu was the only Senate president of Nigeria ever to ascend to the Nigerian presidency through the constitutional order of succession. He was later forced to handover power to Aguiyi-Ironsi military junta.
- Ameh Ebute is the shortest serving Senate president, he served less than 17 days in office, before the Senate was dissolved by General Sani Abacha in November 1993.
- Evan Enwerem was the first civilian former governor to become the president of the Senate.
- Anyim Pius Anyim is the first Senate president born after independence, he was born on 19 February 1961.
- Benue South is the only district to have produced two Senate presidents, Ameh Ebute and David Mark.
- Benue State is the only state to have produced 3 Senate presidents Iyorchia Ayu, Ameh Ebute and David Mark.
- David Mark is the first and only retired military general to become Senate president.
- David Mark became the first person to retain the presidency of the Senate and serve a second term in 2011. He and his deputy were re-nominated without contest.
- David Mark was the longest serving senate president (2007–2015) and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu was the longest serving deputy senate president (2007–2019).
- Bukola Saraki was the first Nigerian Senate president not to be born in Nigeria, he was born in London, United Kingdom.
References
edit- ^ Oyero, Kayode (13 June 2023). "UPDATED: Akpabio Sworn In As Senate President". Channels Television. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
- ^ Obeme-Ndukwe, Ifunanya (13 June 2023). "Akpabio elected Senate President". Daily Post Nigeria. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
- ^ "Nigeria's Constitution of 1999 with Amendments through 2011" (PDF). Constitute Project. Retrieved 8 March 2022.