# Vice President of Nigeria

The vice president of Nigeria is the second-highest official in the executive branch of the federal government of Nigeria, after the president of Nigeria, and ranks first in the presidential line of succession. Officially styled Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the vice president is directly elected together with the president to a four-year term of office.
Kashim Shettima is the 15th and current vice president of Nigeria, he assumed office on 29 May 2023.

## Eligibility

Candidates eligible for the office of vice president must be a citizen of Nigeria by birth, at least 40 years of age, a member of a political party and is sponsored by that political party.

## Oath of office

The Constitution of Nigeria specifies an oath of office for the vice president of the federation. The oath is administered by the chief justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria or the person for the time being appointed to exercise the functions of that office. It is the same oath recited by deputy state governors, ministers, commissioners and special advisers to the president.
   I, do solemnly swear/affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to the Federal Republic of Nigeria; that as Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I will discharge my duties to the best of my ability, faithfully and in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the law, and always in the interest of the sovereignty, integrity, solidarity, well-being and prosperity of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; that I will strive to preserve the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy contained in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; that I will not allow my personal interest to influence my official conduct or my official decisions, that I will to the best of my ability preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; that I will abide by the Code of Conduct contained in the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; that in all circumstances, I will do right to all manner of people, according to law, without fear or favour, affection or ill-will; that I will not directly or indirectly communicate or reveal to any person any matter which shall be brought under my consideration or shall become known to me as Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. So help me God.

## Functions of the vice president of Nigeria

The executive functions of the Nigerian vice president includes participation in all cabinet meetings by statute and membership in the National Security Council, Federal Executive Council, and a constitutional role of being the chairman of the National Economic Council. Although the vice president may take an active role in establishing policy in the executive branch by serving on such committees and councils, the relative power of the Nigerian vice president depends upon the duties delegated by the president. Contrary to some opinions that the vice president has a statutory function of representing the president in any occasion or chairing committees and council meetings, according to the Nigerian constitution, it is the prerogative of the president to choose whoever is serving in the executive branch of government to represent him in any of those occasions. The vice president cannot make executive orders or decisions without the assent of the president because the president holds full executive and presidential powers. The vice president by a matter of law is not a constitutional deputy to the president, the office is fully and independently presidential, it's executive powers are hibernated until the president is unable to function by any means, in which case he or she becomes the acting president. In the instance of resignation, impeachment or death of the president, the vice president being the first in line of succession becomes the president of Nigeria.

## List of vice presidents
### Military government (1966–1979)

Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu orchestrated the bloody military coup d'état of 1966 which overthrew the First Republic, parliamentary system of government was abolished and the office of the Vice President was established with Babafemi Ogundipe becoming the first Vice President as Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters.
| Chief of Staff | Chief of Staff | Chief of Staff | Term of office | Term of office | Term of office | Military | Head of State |
| No. | Portrait | Name (birth–death) | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Military | Head of State |
| 1 | | Brigadier Babafemi Ogundipe (1924–1971) | 16 January 1966 | 29 July 1966 (deposed.) | 194 days | Central Military Government | Major General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi |
| 2 | | Vice Admiral Joseph Edet Akinwale Wey (1918–1991) | 1 August 1966 | 29 July 1975 (deposed.) | 8 years, 362 days | Federal Military Government | General Yakubu Gowon |
| 3 | | Lieutenant General Olusegun Obasanjo (born 1937) | 29 July 1975 | 13 February 1976 (Became Head of State after the assassination of Murtala) | 199 days | Federal Military Government | General Murtala Muhammed |
| 4 | | Major General Shehu Musa Yar'Adua (1943–1997) | 13 February 1976 | 30 September 1979 (Handed over to civilian government) | 3 years, 229 days | Federal Military Government | General Olusegun Obasanjo |

### Second Republic (1979–1983)

Under the 1979 Constitution, the second constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the president was both head of state and government. The president along with the vice president were elected for a four-year term. In the event of a vacancy, the vice president would have served as acting president.
| Vice President | Vice President | Vice President | Term of office | Term of office | Term of office | Political party | Elected | President |
| No. | Portrait | Name (birth–death) | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Political party | Elected | President |
| 5 | | Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme (1932–2017) | 1 October 1979 | 31 December 1983 (deposed.) | 4 years, 91 days | National Party of Nigeria | 1979 1983 | Alhaji Shehu Shagari |

### Military government (1983–1993)

Major-General Muhammadu Buhari was made military head of state following the coup d'ètat of 1983, which overthrew the Second Republic, Major General Tunde Idiagbon became the Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters.
| Chief of Staff/ Vice President | Chief of Staff/ Vice President | Chief of Staff/ Vice President | Term of office | Term of office | Term of office | Military | Head of State/ President |
| No. | Portrait | Name (birth–death) | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Military | Head of State/ President |
| 6 | | Major General Tunde Idiagbon (1943–1999) | 31 December 1983 | 27 August 1985 (deposed.) | 1 year, 239 days | Supreme Military Council | Major General Muhammadu Buhari |
| 7 | | Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe (born 1940) | 27 August 1985 | October 1986 (resigned.) | 1 year, 35 days | Armed Forces Ruling Council | General Ibrahim Babangida |
| 8 | | Admiral Augustus Aikhomu (1939–2011) | October 1986 | 26 August 1993 (Handed over to interim government) | 6 years, 329 days | Armed Forces Ruling Council | General Ibrahim Babangida |

### Interim National Government (1993)

Chief Ernest Shonekan was made interim head of state of Nigeria following the crisis of the Third Republic. He initially announced his vice president to be Moshood Abiola the supposed winner of the 12 June 1993 elections, which the latter rejected stating he was the rightful successor to the presidency.
| Vice President | Period | Period | Period | Head of State |
| Vacant | 26 August 1993 | 17 November 1993 | 83 days | Chief Ernest Shonekan |

### Military government (1993–1999)

General Sani Abacha led the palace coup d'ètat of 1993 which overthrew the Interim National Government, Lieutenant General Oladipo Diya became the Chief of General Staff.
| Chief of General Staff | Chief of General Staff | Chief of General Staff | Term of office | Term of office | Term of office | Military | Head of State |
| No. | Portrait | Name (birth–death) | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Military | Head of State |
| 9 | | Lieutenant General Donaldson Oladipo Diya (1944–2023) | 17 November 1993 | 21 December 1997 (Deposed and arrested for attempted coup) | 4 years, 34 days | Provisional Ruling Council | General Sani Abacha |
| General Sani Abacha |||||||
| 10 | | Vice Admiral Michael Akhigbe (1946–2013) | 9 June 1998 | 29 May 1999 (Handed over to civilian government) | 354 days | Provisional Ruling Council | General Abdulsalami Abubakar |

### Fourth Republic (1999–present)

Under the fourth Constitution of the Republic of Nigeria, the president is head of both state and government. The president along with the vice president are elected for a four-year renewable term. In the event of a vacancy, the Vice President serves as acting president.
| Vice President | Vice President | Vice President | Term of office | Term of office | Term of office | Political party | Elected | President |
| No. | Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Political party | Elected | President |
| 11 | | Atiku Abubakar (born 1946) | 29 May 1999 | 29 May 2007 | 8 years, 0 days | People's Democratic Party | 1999 2003 | Chief Olusegun Obasanjo |
| 12 | | Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (born 1957) | 29 May 2007 | 6 May 2010 (Became President after the death of Yar'Adua) | 2 years, 342 days | People's Democratic Party | 2007 | Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar'Adua |
| Vacant (13 days) | Vacant (13 days) | Vacant (13 days) | Vacant (13 days) | Vacant (13 days) | Vacant (13 days) | Vacant (13 days) | Vacant (13 days) | Goodluck Jonathan |
| 13 | | Namadi Sambo (born 1954) | 19 May 2010 | 29 May 2015 | 5 years, 10 days | People's Democratic Party | 2011 | Goodluck Jonathan |
| 14 | | Yemi Osinbajo (born 1957) | 29 May 2015 | 29 May 2023 | 8 years, 0 days | All Progressives Congress | 2015 2019 | Muhammadu Buhari |
| 15 | | Kashim Shettima (born 1966) | 29 May 2023 | Incumbent | 1 year, 226 days | All Progressives Congress | 2023 | Bola Tinubu |

## Vice presidents by time in office

| Rank | Vice president | Political party | Total time in office | Cause of end of term |
| 1 | Joseph Edet Akinwale Wey | Military | 8 years, 362 days | Deposed |
| 2 | Atiku Abubakar | People's Democratic Party | 8 years, 0 days | Natural expiration |
| 2 | Yemi Osinbajo | All Progressives Congress | 8 years, 0 days | Natural expiration |
| 4 | Augustus Aikhomu | Military | 6 years, 329 days | Resignation |
| 5 | Namadi Sambo | People's Democratic Party | 5 years, 10 days | Natural expiration |
| 6 | Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme | National Party of Nigeria | 4 years, 91 days | Deposed |
| 7 | Donaldson Oladipo Diya | Military | 4 years, 34 days | Deposed and arrested for treason |
| 8 | Shehu Musa Yar'Adua | Military | 3 years, 229 days | Resignation |
| 9 | Goodluck Ebele Jonathan | People's Democratic Party | 2 years, 342 days | Death of Yar'Adua |
| 10 | Tunde Idiagbon | Military | 1 year, 239 days | Deposed |
| 11 | Kashim Shettima | All Progressives Congress | 1 year, 226 days | In office |
| 12 | Ebitu Ukiwe | Military | 1 year, 35 days | Resignation |
| 13 | Michael Akhigbe | Military | 354 days | Resignation |
| 14 | Olusegun Obasanjo | Military | 199 days | Assassination of Murtala Muhammed |
| 15 | Babafemi Ogundipe | Military | 194 days | Deposed |

## Residence

The vice president of Nigeria resides at Akinola Aguda House.