The office of the senate president is the third-highest office in the hierarchy of political offices in Nigeria after the office of the president and vice president. In this article, we’ll explore the past and current Senate presidents in Nigeria.
Nigeria, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria has three arms of government which are; Legislative, Executive and Judiciary.
Nigerian Legislative is considered the foremost of the three arms of government and it is at the beginning of the fourth Republic in 1999 that it started sailing smoothly. It is in this fourth Republic constitution (section 4) that the legislative is described as the highest law-making body that has the power to make laws for the country. The upper house is known as the Senate and Nigeria has produced 14 senate presidents since its Independence in 1960.The other arm of the Legislative organ is the House of Representative
First Female Senate President Of Nigeria
Nigeria has never had a female senate president nor has there ever been a female deputy senate president.
However, Nigeria’s first female senator is Franca Afegbua. Franca Afegbua is from the old Bendel which is currently a combination of Delta and Edo State in the mid-western region of Nigeria.
Current Senate President Of Nigeria
The current senate president of Nigeria is Ahmed Lawan. He became the president of the senate on the 11th of June, 2019.
Ahmed Lawan came into office through the platform of the political party All Progressive Congress (APC). He hails from Yobe State and represents Bade/Jakusko federal constituency in the House of Representatives in 2003 before representing Yobe North senatorial district in the senate-house in 2007.
Youngest Senator In Nigeria
Ishaku Elisha Abbo is the youngest senator in Nigeria. He represents Adamawa North senatorial district.
He became popular following an incident of assault of a lady at an adult sex shop in 2019. Ishaku Elisha Abbo in CCTV camera footage was seen slapping a lady on multiple occasions. The case was eventually dismissed from the High Court following a lack of proper persecution the police.
Former Senate Presidents Of Nigeria
Nnamdi Benjamin Azikiwe 1960
He was known as the father of Nigerian Nationalism. He was a Nigerian Statesman and political leader.
In 1944, on his initiative, the National Council of Nigeria and Cameroon ( NCNC) was founded to weld the heterogeneous masses of Nigeria into one solid block.
His tenure as Senate President was short (1960) because, on October 1, 1960, when Nigeria became independent Azikiwe was appointed governor-general. On October 1, 1963, Nigeria became a republic and he was named her first president this was a position he held until he was deposed the military coup of January 15, 1966.
He retired from politics in 1986 and died on May 11, 1996, after a long illness at the University of Enugu Teaching Hospital.
Dennis Osadebey 1960 -1963
He was a Nigerian politician, poet, journalist and lawyer profession. He was a senate president from 1960 to 1963 and a political member of the National Council of Nigeria and Cameroon (NCNC). He was born on 29th June 1911 and died on December 26th 1994 at age 83.
Nwafor Orizu 1963-1966
Prince Assinia Akweke Nwafor Orizu born 17th July 1914 at Nnewi Anambra State held the Senate President from November 1963 to January 1966 under the political party of National Council of Nigeria and Cameroon (NCNC). He died in 1999 in Germany.
In 1966 there was a military intervention in Nigeria’s political system for over 12 years. In 1979, the military through General Olusegun Obasanjo lift the ban on political activities and eventually ushered Nigeria into a democratic system. Thus, there was no position for senators between 1966 and 1979.
Joseph Wayas 1979-1983
Born 21st May 1942 at Obudu Cross River State. He was the Senate President from 1979 to 1983 and a member of the political party Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He was elected senate president of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN). He had an excellent relationship with the president Shehu Shagari and he was the leader of the NPN party’s “Lagos group” in 1983. He died on 30th November 2021.
Iyorchia Ayu 1992–1993
Born 15 November 1952 at Gboko. He was a Senate President from 1992 to 1993. He was impeached while on service and appointed the minister of education in 1993 under the Abacha-led regime. He served in various ministerial positions in the cabinet of President Olusegun Obasanjo between 1999 to 2007.
Ameh Ebute 1993
A Nigerian lawyer and politician. Born 16th May 1946 in Benue state. He was the president of the Nigerian Senate from the end of the third Republic 1993 to 1993.
Evans Enwerem 1999
Born 29th October 1935. He was a Nigerian politician who served as the President of the Nigerian Senate in 1999. He became the first president of the Nigerian Senate during the Fourth Republic in May and was inaugurated in June. He did not hold the position for long because he was impeached on November 18th, 1999. Though removed as the Senate president, he remained a member of the Senate until 2003. He died in August 2007 after a brief illness.
Chuba Wilberforce Okadigbo 1999–2000
Born 17 December 1941. He was a Nigerian philosopher, academic writer and political scientist. He became a Senate president in 1999 and like his predecessor was removed in August 2000. He died on September 25th 2005.
Anyim Pius Anyim 2000-2003
He was born on the 19th of February 1961 at Ebonyi State. He was a Nigerian politician under the political party Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He was a lawyer profession and was elected Senate President in August 2000 after the impeachment of his predecessor and he held the office till May 2003.
Adolphus Wabara 2003–2005
Born June 1st 1948 in Abia State, a Businessman occupation and a politician profession. He became the Senate president from 2003 to 2005 under the political party PDP.
In May 2004, senators moved to investigate him over alleged financial misdeeds and in February 2005 he resigned from his position after allegations were made that he took a bribe from the education minister Fabian Osuji and others.
Ken Ugwu Nnamani 2005–2007
Born 2 November 1948 in Enugu State. He is a Businessman and industrial consultant occupation. He became the Senate president from April 2005 to 2007 and a member of PDP.
David Alechenu Bonaventure Mark 2007–2015
He was born in April 1948, a retired Brigadier General and politician. He was the Senate president from June 6th 2007 to 2015 and was the senator for Benue South senatorial district Benue State. He is a member of PDP and is known for his ardent support of the bill prohibiting same-sex marriage in Nigeria.
Olubukola Saraki Abubakar 2015–2019
He was born on 19th December 1962 and was a Senate president from June 2015 to 2019. He was previously the Governor of Kwara State from 2003 to 2011 and was elected to the senate in 2011 under PDP representing the Kwara central senatorial district and then re-elected in the 2015 general elections under the All Progressive Congress (APC). He is a physician and politician profession. He was succeeded Current Senator Ahmad Lawan.
