Politics Ledger · Sub-Saharan Africa

Nigeria

Electoral autocracyPresidential republicFederal
Updated todaysource: Curated
curated|
Updated todaysource: Curated
estimate
In charge
Bola Tinubu
President
Time in power
3.4 yrs
since 2023
Government seats
67%
majority
Next national vote
2027-01
General (presidential and National Assembly)
Governance score
35/100
composite of five indices

Africa's most populous country was assembled by Britain from diverse regions, suffered civil war and nearly three decades of military rule, and has sustained civilian government since 1999 despite insurgency and corruption.

Leadership

Who Governs Nigeria

Head of state
Holds executive power
Bola Tinubu
President · All Progressives Congress (APC)
Since 29 May 2023 · 3.4 years
Age 74 (born 1952)ManRoute to power: won a popular election
Ruling coalition
APC, strengthened by mass defections of PDP governors and legislators
Main opposition
African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition (Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi) and the weakened PDP
Last national election
25 February 2023
General

Tinubu won with 36.6%, the lowest winning share since 1999; results challenged in court.

Next national election
16 January 2027
General (presidential and National Assembly)
Parliament

House of Representatives

Seat distribution (Approximate after 2025-26 defections), ordered from economic left to right.

PartyIdeologySeatsRole
All Progressives Congress (APC)Big tent, Centre-right240governing
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)Big tent, Centre70opposition
Labour Party (LP)Social democracy, Youth populism25opposition
New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP)Kwankwasiyya populism15opposition
Others (ADC, APGA, YPP, SDP) (OTH)Various10opposition
Ideology

Party Landscape

Each party placed on economic and social axes, sized by seats.

Institutions

The System

Official name
Federal Republic of Nigeria
Capital
Abuja
Population
232 million
Statehood
Independence 1 October 1960; Fourth Republic Constitution 1999
System
Presidential republic
Structure
Federal
Current constitution
1999
Legislature
National Assembly
Lower / sole chamber
House of Representatives (360 seats)
Upper chamber
Senate (109)
Electoral system
Presidential plurality plus 25% in two-thirds of states; FPTP for the National Assembly.
Term limits
President: two four-year terms.

Sources

  • INEC
  • National Assembly
  • Premium Times
  • EIU Democracy Index 2024; Freedom House, Freedom in the World 2025; RSF World Press Freedom Index 2025; Transparency International CPI 2024; IPU Parline, 2026; V-Dem v15 Liberal Democracy Index (approximate five-year readings)

Last verified 2026-10-29. Party placements are editorial estimates.

Data as of 2026-10-29.