Comprehensive List of All Nigeria’s Senate Presidents

This article talks about all of Nigeria’s senate presidents from the moment Nigeria became a republic in 1963 after its independence from colonial rule in 1960 up until the present moment. Nigeria is the largest country in terms of population and population in Africa has had its share of power changing hands and struggles, some of them were without blood shared while under are dipped in sacrifice.

The president of the Nigerian Senate holds the important role of leading and overseeing the Senate of Nigeria. This individual is elected by the members of the Senate itself. It’s worth noting that the senate president’s position carries significant weight, as they are the second in line to succeed in the Nigerian presidency, right after the Vice President of Nigeria.

In simpler terms, the president of the Nigerian Senate is like the captain of the Senate ship. Senate presidents are elected by the Senate members and have a significant role in leading and managing the Senate proceedings. Interestingly, if anything were to happen to the President of Nigeria, the Senate president would step up as the second-in-command, right after the Vice President. This means they are next in line to take charge of the country in case the need arises.

All Nigeria’s Senate Presidents

1. Nnamdi Azikiwe – 1 January 1960 – 1 October 1960

Nnamdi Azikiwe who is also the first president of Nigeria was also the first Senate president even before Nigeria became a republic in 1963. Zik as he is popularly called became the president of the Senate on 1st January 1960 to 1st of October 1960 when he transitioned to be governor-general on 16th of November 1960. Nnamdi is known as the “father of Nigerian nationalism through his many fight for self-governance.

2. Dennis Osadebay

Osadebay was a founding member of the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC) in 1944. He left the country to pursue a law degree but returned and established a law practice in Aba. Meanwhile, he also served as the legal advisor of the NCNC. Dennis later became a prominent opposition leader in the Western Region House of Assembly and eventually became the president of the Nigerian Senate in 1960. When the Mid-Western Region was created in 1963, he became its first premier.

3. Nwafor Orizu – 1st October 1963 – 15th January 1966

Nwafor Orizu, a distinguished Nigerian hailing from the Igbo community, held the prestigious position of President of the Nigerian Senate from 1963 until January 15, 1966, an era known as the Nigerian First Republic. His remarkable leadership extended beyond the Senate, as he also assumed the role of Acting President of Nigeria in late 1965, a position he held until the unfortunate military coup of January 1966. Notably, Orizu was born into the esteemed Nnewi Royal family, further enhancing his stature and influence.

With a firm grasp on his responsibilities, Nwafor Orizu, as President of the Nigerian Senate, played a pivotal role in shaping the political landscape of his era. He navigated the intricate corridors of power with wisdom and conviction, fostering unity among the diverse communities within Nigeria

4. Joseph Wayas

Joseph Wayas served as the Senate President of Nigeria during the Nigerian Second Republic, which spanned from 1979 to 1983. Wayas, a member of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN), successfully won a seat in the Senate and was subsequently chosen as the Senate President. His political jurisdiction encompassed the northern senatorial district.

5. Iyorchia Ayu

Iyorchia Ayu is a prominent Nigerian politician. He currently holds the position of Chairman of the National Working Committee in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). In the past, he served as a Senator in Nigeria and even had the honor of being elected as the President of the Senate during the Nigerian Third Republic from 1992 to 1993. Additionally, he contributed significantly to the governance of Nigeria by holding several ministerial positions in President Olusegun Obasanjo’s Cabinet from 1999 to 2007.

6. Ameh Ebute

Ameh Ebute from the former Benue, Northern Region, British Nigeria which is now known as Benue is the sixth senate president of Nigeria, although his time holding the position was short as he became the leader of the senate when the third republic was coming to an end. Ebute was the senate president from early November 1993  to 17th of November 1993 when the military government took over in a coup.

7. Evan Enwerem

Evans Enwerem is a Nigerian politician who served as the first senate president that laid the foundation for the fourth republic becoming the senate president when democracy was restored in 1999. Enwerem is from the Ikeduru local government of Imo State, Nigeria. Additionally, Evan was elected governor of Imo State in 1991 during the failed Third Republic era of the Nigerian government. He was elected to the Nigerian Senate in 1999 to represent the Imo-East Senatorial Zone and served from the 3rd of June 1999 to the 18th of November 1999 before being ousted.

8. Chuba Okadigbo

Chuba Okadigbo succeeded Evan Enwerem as the second senate president of the fourth republic. Although,  his time just like his predecessor was not a long one, he, however, served from the 18th of November 1999 to the 8th of August 2000. Okadigbo is from Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria.

9. Anyim Pius Anyim

Anyim Pius Anyim is a prominent figure in Nigerian politics who has held several important positions. He had the honor of serving as the President of the Nigerian Senate from 2000 to 2003. Prior to that, in 1999, he was elected as a Senator representing the Ebonyi South constituency of Ebonyi State, representing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In a turn of events in August 2000, Anyim was elected as the President of the Senate following the removal of Chuba Okadigbo from the position. Okadigbo had been falsely accused of corruption, which led to his impeachment and subsequent demotion from the role of Senate President to senator. Anyim, having demonstrated his capabilities and credibility, was chosen to assume this important leadership role.

10. Adolphus Wabara

Adolphus Wabara from Abia State was the 10th Senate President of Nigeria and served from the 3rd of June 2003 to the 5th of April 2005. Meanwhile, before coming the senate president he was previously served as member of House of Representative member for Abia State in the 3rd Republic Nigerian National Assembly under the flag of NRC before joining PDP in 1998 and was elected as Abia South’s senator in the Nigerian Senate for two consecutive tenures.

11. Ken Nnamani

Ken Nnamani became the the 11th senate president of Nigeria in under the flag of the then ruling party after Wabara resigned from thr position due to allegations of corruption. He was elected to the Senate, representing Enugu East Senatorial District of Enugu State in 2003, Ken Nnamani served in the Senate as senator until 2007 and as the senate president from the 5th of April 2005 to the 5th of June 2007.

12. David Mark

David Mark was a retired army general as well as a former president of the senate that served as the senator representing Benue South senatorial district from 1999 to 2019. Before becoming a politician, Mark had served in the Nigeria army before venturing into politics. Also, before becoming a senator David Mark had served military Governor of Niger State from 1984 to 1986 and also as former minister of communication. Mark was president of the senate of Nigeria from the 5th of June 2007 to the 6th of June 2015 under the PDP flag ship.

13. Bukola Saraki

Abubakar Bukola Sariki from Kwara state is the 13th Nigeria senate president. Although, Bukola was a former Governor of his state before transitioning into a senator in 2011 after leaving office. Bukola Saraki represented the Kwara Central Senatorial District and was the senate president of Nigeria from the 9th of June 2015 to the 9th of June 2019 and Chair of the 8th Nigeria National Assembly. Under his leadership, the senate surpassed all previous Senate’s in Nigeria’s history, passing 201 bills and clearing 138 public petitions.

14. Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan

Ahmed Lawan is the 14th senate president of the federal republic of Nigeria, having served under the flag ship of the current ruling party APC. His tenure as the senate president was marked to be on that was under performing, popular tag “rubber stamp senate”. Lawan who is also a professor and university lecturer before joining politics when he was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1999 became the senate president in from the 11th of June 2019 to the 11th of June 2023 representing Yobe North Senatorial District.

15. Godswill Akpabio

Godswill Akpabio is the 10th assembly senate president of Nigeria. Akpabio Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District became the senate president aster he was elected on 13th of June 2023. Meanwhile before joining politics he was a lawyer and a teacher and he had served as the governor of his state as well as minister for Niger Delta Affairs from 2019 to 2022. Akpabio is the incumbent Nigeria senate president.

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