Joined politics in 2002 and became leader of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and later Congress for Progressive Change (CPC)
Contested Presidential elections in 2003 (ANPP), 2007 (ANPP) and 2011 (CPC) and lost to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
Contested again in 2015 on the platform of the All Progressives Congress and defeated the incumbent President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, of the Peoples Democratic Party
Sworn in as the sixth elected President on May 29, 2015
Origin: Fulani (North West)
General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (1985 – 1993)
Nigeria’s first Military President and 8th Head of State (August 1985 – August 1993)
Born in Minna on August 17, 1941
Trained as soldier at The Nigeria Military Training College, Kaduna (1962 – 1963)
Indian Military Academy (1964)
Royal Armoured Centre, UK (1966 – 1967)
Advanced Armoured Officers Course, Army Armoured School, USA (1972 -1973)
Command and Staff College, Jaji (1977)
Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji (1977)
National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Jos (1979)
Senior International Defence Management Course, Naval Postgraduate School, USA (1980)
Chief of Army Staff (January 1984 – August 1985)
Stepped aside under pressure in August 1993, after annulling a democratic election
Nigeria’s longest military ruler (eight years)
Origin: Nupe (North Central)
Chief Ernest Adegunle Oladeinde Shonekan (1993)
Head of Interim Government (August 26, 1993 – November 17, 1993)
Born May 9, 1936 in Lagos
Trained as a lawyer at the University of London in 1962
Industrialist and politician
Was forced to leave office on November 17, 1993 through a palace coup spearheaded by General Sani Abacha
Shortest ruler: only three months
Origin: Yoruba (South West)
General Sani Abacha (1993 -1998)
Seventh military ruler (November 17, 1993)
Born September 20, 1943 in Kano
Trained as a soldier at the Nigeria Military Training Centre, Kaduna (1962 – 1963)
Mons Officer cadet School, Aldershot, UK (1963)
School of Infantry at Warminster (1966 and 1971)
Command and Staff College, Jaji (1976)
National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Jos (1981)
International defence Course in Montgomery, California, USA (1982)
Chief of Army Staff (1985 – 1990)
Chief of Defence Staff (1990 -1993)
Defence Secretary (1993)
Died in office on June 8, 1998 in Abuja at the age of 54 years. Was buried in Kano same day
Origin: Kanuri (North West)
General Abdulsalami Abubakar 1993 – 1999)
Eighth military ruler (June 1993 – May 1999)
Born in Minna, Niger State on June 13, 1942
Trained as a soldier
Chief of Defence Staff (1993 – 1998)
Organised election that ushered Nigeria back to civilian rule
Origin: Nupe (North Central)
Chief Olusegun Obasanjo (1999 – 2007)
Returned as the third elected President (May 29, 1999 – May 28, 2011
Conducted the first civilian-to-civilian handover
Origin: Yoruba (South West)
Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua (2007 – 2010)
Fourth democratically elected President (May 29, 2007 – May 28, 2010)
Born on August 16, 1951 in Danmarna, Katsina
Studied Chemistry at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (B.Sc and Sc)
University Lecturer
Governor of Katsina State May 29, 1999 – May 28, 2007
Sworn in as President on May 29, 2007
Fell sick and presidential powers transferred to his deputy on March 9, 2010, in acting capacity
Returned to Abuja on February 24, 2010, but was not attending to duties
Died on May 5, 2010, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja
Buried in Danmarna, Katsina, on May 6, 2010
Origin: Fulani (North West)
Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (May 6, 2010 – May 28, 2015)
Acting President (March 9, 2010 – May 5, 2010) following the incapacity of the President
Substantive President on May 6, 2010 following the death of President
Contested and won the April 16, 2011 Presidential election
Sworn in as President May 29, 2011 and remained in office till May 28, 2015
Born in Otuoke, Ogbia LGA of Bayelsa State on November 20, 1957
Youngest and most educationally certified leader – has PhD from the University of Port Harcourt
Education: B.Sc in Biology, University of Port Harcourt
M.Sc in Hydrobiology and Fisheries Biology, University of Port Harcourt
PhD in Zoology, University of Port Harcourt
Local Government Councillor
Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State (May 29, 1999 – December 8, 2005
Governor of Bayelsa State (December 9, 2005 – May 28, 2007)
Vice President of Nigeria (May 29, 2007 – May 5, 2010)
Defeated in his second term bid during the April 2015 Presidential election by the APC candidate, Muhammadu Buhari
Origin: Ijaw (South South)
President Muhammadu Buhari (2015 till date)
Second coming, this time as civilian president (May 29, 2015 till date)
Second Nigerian to serve as both Military Head of State and Civilian President
Second also to be elected twice back-to-back as President
Military Head of State December 31, 1993 – August 1985)
Defeated an incumbent President and sworn in on May 29, 2015
Origin: Fulani (North West)
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