Fourth Nigerian Republic

Founding

Following the death of the military dictator and de facto ruler of Nigeria General Sani Abacha in 1998, his successor, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, initiated the transition which heralded Nigeria's return to democratic rule in 1999. The ban on political activities was lifted, and political prisoners were released from detention facilities. The constitution was modeled after that of the ill-fated Nigerian Second Republic—which saw the Westminster system of government jettisoned in favor of a system closer to the American presidential system. Political parties were formed, including the People's Democratic Party (PDP), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), and the Alliance for Democracy (AD), and elections were set for April 1999. In the widely monitored 1999 election, former military ruler Olusegun Obasanjo was elected on the PDP platform. On 29 May 1999, Obasanjo was sworn in as the country's president and commander-in-chief.

In the controversial general election on 21 April 2007, Umaru Yar'Adua of the PDP was elected president. Following the death of Yar'Adua on 5 May 2010, Goodluck Jonathan became the third (and interim) president. The next year, Johnathan won an election that was largely accredited as freer and fairer than all the previous elections of the Fourth Republic. Former dictator Muhammadu Buhari won the 28 March 2015 general election, ending sixteen years (1999–2015) of PDP rule. On 29 May 2015, Buhari was sworn in as the president of Nigeria, becoming the first opposition figure to win a presidential election since independence in 1960.

All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Bola Tinubu won the February 2023 presidential election to succeed Buhari as Nigeria's next president. However, the opposition accused the government of electoral fraud during the polling. On 29 May 2023, Tinubu was sworn in as Nigeria's president.

Political parties

Major parties

• All Progressives Congress (APC) – ruling party
• People's Democratic Party (PDP) – opposition party

;Defunct major opposition

• All People's Party (APP)
• Alliance for Democracy (AD)
• All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP)
• Congress for Progressive Change (CPC)

Minor parties

Presidents

Constitutional amendments

• Third Term Agenda

References

• The History of Nigeria
• Media Accountability and Democracy in Nigeria

References

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7. Akinbode, Ayomide. (2 April 2019). "Why Nigeria changed from Right-Hand Drive to Left-Hand Drive in 1972".
8. "Africa: Nigeria". [[Central Intelligence Agency]].
9. (2019-06-12). "June 12, NASS and Nigeria's Fourth Republic".
10. . (14 January 2011). ["Goodluck Jonathan wins vote to run in Nigeria's April election"](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/jan/14/goodluck-jonathan-nigeria-election). *The Guardian*.
11. . (17 April 2011). ["Nigeria election: Riots over Goodluck Jonathan win"](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13107867). *BBC News*.
12. . (31 March 2015). ["Nigeria election: Muhammadu Buhari wins presidency"](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-32139858). *BBC News*.
13. (29 May 2015). "Nigeria's President Buhari promises change at inauguration". BBC News.
14. "Nigeria's Muhammadu Buhari sworn in for second term as president". www.aljazeera.com.
15. "Who is Bola Tinubu, Nigeria's president-elect?". www.aljazeera.com.
16. "Bola Tinubu sworn in as Nigeria's president, succeeds Buhari". www.aljazeera.com.