Vice President of Nigeria

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.^[3]

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.

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. 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 but the 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. ^[4]

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			Term of office			Military	Head of State
No.	Portrait	Name (birth–death)	Took office	Left office	Time in office
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		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		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			Term of office			Political party	Elected	President
No.	Portrait	Name (birth–death)	Took office	Left office	Time in office
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.

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.

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.

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			Term of office			Political party	Elected	President
No.	Portrait	Name	Took office	Left office	Time in office
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)								Goodluck Jonathan
13		Namadi Sambo (born 1954)	19 May 2010	29 May 2015	5 years, 10 days	People's Democratic Party	2011
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	339 days	All Progressives Congress	2023	Bola Tinubu

The vice president of Nigeria resides at Akinola Aguda House.

• List of governors and governors-general of Nigeria
• List of heads of state of Nigeria
• List of heads of government of Nigeria