The president of the Nigerian Senate is the presiding officer of the Senate of Nigeria, elected by its membership. The senate president is second in line of succession to the Nigerian presidency, after the vice president of Nigeria. The current president of the Senate is Godswill Akpabio since 13 June 2023.
Role The senate president is chosen in an indirect election conducted within the senate, amongst the 109 members. The line of succession to the Nigerian presidency goes to the vice president, and then the senate president should both the president and vice president be unable to discharge the powers and duties of office.
List of Nigerian Senate presidents Federation Senate President Term of office Political party Portrait Name Took office Left office Nnamdi Azikiwe 1 January 1960 1 October 1960 National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons Dennis Osadebay 1 October 1960 1 October 1963 National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons First Republic Senate President Term of office Political party Portrait Name Took office Left office Nwafor Orizu 1 October 1963 15 January 1966 National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons Military Government The Senate did not sit during this time. Second Republic Senate President Term of office Political party Elected Portrait Name Took office Left office Joseph Wayas 1 October 1979 31 December 1983 National Party of Nigeria 19791983
Military Government The Senate did not sit during this time. Third Republic Senate President Term of office Political party Constituency Elected Portrait Name Took office Left office Iyorchia Ayu 5 December 1992 November 1993 Social Democratic Party Benue North-West 1992 Ameh Ebute November 1993 17 November 1993 Social Democratic Party Benue South 1993
Military Government The Senate did not sit during this time. Fourth Republic Senate President Term of office Political party Constituency Elected Portrait Name Took office Left office Evan Enwerem 3 June 1999 18 November 1999 People's Democratic Party Imo East 1999 Chuba Okadigbo 18 November 1999 8 August 2000 People's Democratic Party Anambra North 1999 Anyim Pius Anyim 8 August 2000 3 June 2003 People's Democratic Party Ebonyi South 2000 Adolphus Wabara 3 June 2003 5 April 2005 People's Democratic Party Abia South 2003 Ken Nnamani 5 April 2005 5 June 2007 People's Democratic Party Enugu East 2005 David Mark 5 June 2007 6 June 2015 People's Democratic Party Benue South 2007 2011 Bukola Saraki 9 June 2015 9 June 2019 All Progressives Congressto 2018 Kwara Central 2015 People's Democratic Partyfrom 2018 Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan 11 June 2019 11 June 2023 All Progressives Congress Yobe North 2019 Godswill Akpabio 13 June 2023 Incumbent All Progressives Congress Akwa Ibom North-West 2023
References Senator Akpabio Emerges New Senate President Official Website of the Nigerian Senate The Making of a Senate President