Government and Politics of Nigeria

Government Type

republic transitioning from military to civilian rule

Administrative Divisions

36 states and 1 territory*; Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Federal Capital Territory*, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nassarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara

Legal System

based on English common law, Islamic Shariah law (only in some northern states), and traditional law

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Nigeria dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 15 years

Executive Branch

chief of state: President Bola Ahmed TINUBU (since 29 May 2023); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Bola Ahmed TINUBU (since 29 May 2023); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Federal Executive Council appointed by the president elections: president is elected by popular vote for no more than two four-year terms; election last held 25 February 2023 (next to be held in February 2027) election results: Bola Ahmed TINUBU elected president; percent of vote - Bola Ahmed TINUBU (APC) 36.6%, Atiku ABUBAKAR (PDP) 29.1%, Peter OBI (LP) 25.4%, Rabiu KWANKWASO (NNPP) 6.4%, other 2.5%

Legislative Branch

bicameral National Assembly consists of Senate (109 seats - 3 from each state plus 1 from Abuja, members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and House of Representatives (360 seats, members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: Senate - last held 12 April 2003 (next to be held in 2007); House of Representatives - last held 12 April 2003 (next to be held in 2007) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - PDP 53.7%, ANPP 27.9%, AD 9.7%; seats by party - PDP 76, ANPP 27, AD 6; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - PDP 54.5%, ANPP 27.4%, AD 8.8%, other 9.3%; seats by party - PDP 223, ANPP 96, AD 34, other 6; note - one seat is vacant

Judicial Branch

Supreme Court (judges appointed by the President); Federal Court of Appeal (judges are appointed by the federal government on the advice of the Advisory Judicial Committee)

Political Parties

Alliance for Democracy or AD [Mojisoluwa AKINFENWA]; All Nigeria Peoples' Party or ANPP [Don ETIEBET]; All Progressives Grand Alliance or APGA [disputed leadership]; National Democratic Party or NDP [Aliyu Habu FARI]; Peoples Democratic Party or PDP [Dr. Ahmadu ALI]; Peoples Redemption Party or PRP [Abdulkadir Balarabe MUSA]; Peoples Salvation Party or PSP [Lawal MAITURARE]; United Nigeria Peoples Party or UNPP [disputed leadership]

Head of State

President Goodluck Jonathan

Head of Government

President Goodluck Jonathan

Cabinet

Federal Executive Council

Elections

president is elected by popular vote for a four-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 21 April 2007 (next to be held in April 2011)

Election Results

Umaru Musa YAR’ADUA elected president; percent of vote - Umaru Musa YAR’ADUA 69.8%, Muhammadu BUHARI 18.7%, Atiku ABUBAKAR 7.5%, Orji Uzor KALU 1.7%, other 2.3%

Constitution

new constitution adopted May 1999

Independence

1 October 1960 (from UK)

National Holiday

Independence Day (National Day), 1 October (1960)

International Organization Participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, ECOWAS, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNMOVIC, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.

chief of mission: Ambassador Professor George A. OBIOZOR chancery: 3519 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 986-8400 FAX: [1] (202) 775-1385 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, New York

U.S. Diplomatic Representation

chief of mission: Ambassador John CAMPBELL embassy: 7 Mambilla Drive, Abuja mailing address: P. O. Box 554, Lagos telephone: [234] (9) 523-0916/0906/5857/2235/2205 FAX: [234] (9) 523-0353

Capital City

Abuja

Location

9 05 N, 7 32 E

Time Difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

History

Abuja is a planned capital city, it replaced Lagos in 1991; situated in the center of the country, Abuja takes its name from a nearby town, now renamed Suleja

U.S. Embassy Abuja 1075 Diplomatic Drive, Central Area, Abuja Telephone: 234 (9) 461-4176 during office hours (Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.) For after-hours emergencies, call 234 (9) 461-4000 Email: consularabuja@state.gov U.S. Consulate General Lagos 2 Walter Carrington Crescent, Victoria Island, Lagos Telephone: 234 (1) 460-3600 during office hours (Monday through Thursday 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.) For after-hours emergencies, call 234 (1) 460-3400 or 0805-301-0268 Email: LagosACS@state.gov

Military Branches

Nigerian Armed Forces: Army, Navy, Air Force

Service Age and Obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription