ian government

Independence: 1 October 1960 (from UK)

National holiday: Independence Day, 1 October (1960)

Constitution: 1979 constitution still partially in force

Legal system: based on English common law, Islamic law, and
tribal law

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council and
Commander in Chief of Armed Forces Gen. Abdulsalami ABUBAKAR (since
9 June 1998) will remain chief of state and head of government until
29 May 1999 when President-elect Olusegun OBASANJO will be
inaugurated
head of government: Chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council and
Commander in Chief of Armed Forces Gen. Abdulsalami ABUBAKAR (since
9 June 1998) will remain chief of state and head of government until
29 May 1999 when President-elect Olusegun OBASANJO will be
inaugurated
cabinet: Federal Executive Council
elections: the president is elected by popular vote for no more than
two four-year terms; election last held 27 February 1999 (next
election to be held NA 2003)
election results: Olusegun OBASANJO (PDP) won the election with NA%
of the vote, Olu FALAE (APP-AD) NA%

Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly consists of
Senate (109 seats, three from each state and one from the Federal
Capital Territory; members elected by popular vote to serve
seven-year terms) and House of Representatives (360 seats, members
elected by popular vote to serve seven-year terms)
elections: Senate--last held 20-24 February 1999 (next to be held NA
2006); House of Representatives--last held 20-24 February 1999 (next
to be held NA 2006)
election results: Senate--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--PDP 61, APP 24, AD 20, other 4; House of Representives--percent
of vote by party--NA; seats by party--PDP 206, APP 74, AD 68, others 12
note: the National Assembly was suspended by the military government
following the military takeover on 17 November 1993; the new
civilian government which was elected on 20 February 1999 is
expected to be inaugurated on 29 May 1999

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges appointed by the
Provisional Ruling Council; Federal Court of Appeal, judges are
appointed by the federal government on the advice of the Advisory
Judicial Committee

Political parties and leaders: political parties, suppressed by
the military government, were allowed to form in July 1998;