🇳🇬 Nigeria
Federal presidential republicElectoral democracy
Bola Tinubu
President · 1,190 days in office · 270 days remaining
How the political system works in Nigeria
Nigerians elect their president directly every four years. A president can serve a maximum of two terms.
Next election: 2027 — Next Nigerian presidential election, expected February 2027.
Tenure records
Longest-serving
Olusegun Obasanjo
4,247 days · 2 terms
Shortest-serving
Ernest Shonekan
83 days
Average tenure
1,451 days
Bola Tinubu: 18% below average
Recent presidents by days in office
Is a leader's tenure getting longer or shorter in Nigeria?
Across 15 completed terms, the average president of Nigeria has served 1,451 days (about 4.0 years). Terms are getting longer: the last five completed terms averaged 1,824 days.
One completed term Average tenure per decade
All presidents of Nigeria
| # | Name | Took office | Left office | Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 |  Bola Tinubu | May 29, 2023 | Incumbent | 1,190 |
| 15 |  Muhammadu Buhari | May 29, 2015 | May 29, 2023 | 2,922 |
| 14 |  Goodluck Jonathan | May 5, 2010 | May 29, 2015 | 1,850 |
| 13 |  Umaru Musa Yar'Adua | May 29, 2007 | May 5, 2010 | 1,072 |
| 12 |  Olusegun Obasanjo | May 29, 1999 | May 29, 2007 | 2,922 |
| 11 |  Abdulsalami Abubakar | Jun 8, 1998 | May 29, 1999 | 355 |
| 10 | Sani Abacha | Nov 17, 1993 | Jun 8, 1998 | 1,664 |
| 9 |  Ernest Shonekan | Aug 26, 1993 | Nov 17, 1993 | 83 |
| 8 |  Ibrahim Babangida | Aug 27, 1985 | Aug 26, 1993 | 2,921 |
| 7 | Muhammadu Buhari | Dec 31, 1983 | Aug 27, 1985 | 605 |
| 6 |  Shehu Shagari | Oct 1, 1979 | Dec 31, 1983 | 1,552 |
| 5 | Olusegun Obasanjo | Feb 13, 1976 | Sep 30, 1979 | 1,325 |
| 4 |  Murtala Muhammed | Jul 30, 1975 | Feb 13, 1976 | 198 |
| 3 |  Yakubu Gowon | Aug 1, 1966 | Jul 29, 1975 | 3,284 |
| 2 |  Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi | Jan 16, 1966 | Jul 12, 1966 | 177 |
| 1 |  Nnamdi Azikiwe | Oct 1, 1963 | Jan 16, 1966 | 838 |
Officeholder history via Wikidata. Multiple rows for one person indicate separate terms.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is the President of Nigeria?
- Bola Tinubu has been President of Nigeria since May 29, 2023.
- How is the leader of Nigeria chosen?
- Nigerians elect their president directly every four years. A president can serve a maximum of two terms.
- Who is the longest-serving President of Nigeria?
- Olusegun Obasanjo, with 4,247 days in office across 2 terms.
- Are leaders serving longer or shorter terms in Nigeria?
- Across 15 completed terms, the average president of Nigeria has served 1,451 days (about 4.0 years). Terms are getting longer: the last five completed terms averaged 1,824 days.