Constitution of Nigeria

Status: Republic with executive president

Elections organisation: Independent National Electoral Commission

Legislature: National Assembly

The May 1999 constitution, like those of 1979 and 1989, and the draft constitution of 1995, provided for a federal republic with an executive president on theUSmodel. Six new states were created in October 1996, bringing the total to 36. The president is elected every four years by universal adult suffrage and is required to include at least one representative of each of the 36 states in the cabinet. There is a bicameral National Assembly made up of a House of Representatives (with 360 seats) and a Senate (with 109 seats), each elected for four-year terms. The state governors and assemblies are also elected every four years.

The constitution also guarantees personal freedom and permits the exercise of Sharia law for consenting Muslims.

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