RULERS

Heads of State of Nigeria (1960–Present)

Tenure	Portrait	Incumbent	Notes
Federation of Nigeria
1 October 1960 to 1 October 1963		Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of Nigeria represented by:-
1 October 1960 to 16 November 1960		Sir James Wilson Robertson, Governor-General
16 November 1960 to 1 October 1963		Nnamdi Azikiwe, Governor-General
Tenure	Portrait	Incumbent	Affiliation	Notes
Federal Republic of Nigeria
1 October 1963 to 16 January 1966		Nnamdi Azikiwe, President	NCNC	Deposed
16 January 1966 to 29 July 1966		Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, Head of the Federal Military Government	Mil	Deposed and murdered
1 August 1966 to 29 July 1975		Yakubu Gowon, Head of the Federal Military Government	Mil	Deposed
29 July 1975 to 13 February 1976		Murtala Mohammed, Head of the Federal Military Government	Mil	Assassinated
13 February 1976 to 1 October 1979		Olusegun Obasanjo, Head of the Federal Military Government	Mil	1st term; Returned power to civilian government
1 October 1979 to 31 December 1983		Shehu Shagari, President	NPN	Deposed
31 December 1983 to 27 August 1985		Muhammadu Buhari, Chairman of the Supreme Military Council	Mil	Deposed
27 August 1985 to 26 August 1993		Ibrahim Babangida, President of the Armed Forces Ruling Council	Mil	Resigned
26 August 1993 to 17 November 1993		Ernest Shonekan, Interim Head of State	n-p	Deposed
17 November 1993 to 8 June 1998		Sani Abacha, Chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council	Mil	Died in office
8 June 1998 to 29 May 1999		Abdulsalami Abubakar, Chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council	Mil	Transitioned to civilian rule
29 May 1999 to 29 May 2007		Olusegun Obasanjo, President	PDP	2nd term
29 May 2007 to 5 May 2010		Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, President	PDP	Died in office
9 February 2010 to 6 May 2010		Goodluck Jonathan, Acting President	PDP	Acting for Yar'Adua
6 May 2010 to Present		Goodluck Jonathan, President