The 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended doesn’t specify an expiry time for the legislative arm of government. The lifespan of an elected lawmaker is tied to his or tenure and victories or failures recorded at the poll.
According to the 1999 constitution, members of the National Assembly, a bi-cameral legislature serve a mandatory four-year term and can be renewed multiple times through the poll. The constitution highlights procedures for elections, impeachments, and other processes that affect the continuity of the legislative body.
However, some members of the National Assembly – Nigerian Senate and the House of Representatives have spent over 20 years, while some members have been in the hallowed chambers since 1999.
In a similar vein, some members have been voted out at a particular and returned to the chambers through ballots and have spent more than 16 years. A check by WITHIN NIGERIA revealed that these members belong to the ruling All Progressives Congress and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party.
Additional findings revealed that some members defected across political parties to sustain their membership and continued representation in the National Assembly.
Here is a list of Senators and Members of House of Representatives who have spent more than 16 years in the National Assembly:
Sen. Ahmad Lawan
Ahmad Lawan is a Nigerian politician who has been serving in the National Assembly since 1999. He was the 14th President of the Nigerian Senate from 2019 to 2023, representing Yobe North Senatorial District as a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He has been a member of the National Assembly since 1999.
Hon. Nicholas Mutu
He is the longest-serving member of the House of Representatives, representing Bomadi/Patani Federal Constituency in Delta State since 1999. He recently defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2025.
Sen. Ali Ndume
Ali Ndume is a Nigerian politician representing Borno South Senatorial District. He joined the National Assembly in 2003 as a Bama/Ngombe Federal Constituency. He later became a Senator in 2011, representing Borno South Senatorial District. He was previously the Chief Whip of the Senate but was removed from the position in July 2024 and replaced with Senator Tahir Monguno.
Hon. Alhassan Doguwa
Alhassan Doguwa was the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, representing Kano State’s Doguwa/Tudun Wada Federal Constituency in the 9th Assembly. He was first elected as a Rep. member in 2007. He served as a Chief Whip of the House of Representatives in the 8th Assembly.
Sen. Mohammed Monguno
Mohammed Monguno is the current Chief Whip of the Senate, representing Borno North Senatorial District since 2023. He has been a member of the National Assembly since 2007. He firstly represented Marte/Monguno/Nganzai Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives. He was first elected member of the House in the Third Republic (1992/93).
Hon. Khadijat Bukar Abba-Ibrahim
Khadijat Bukar Abba-Ibrahim is the wife of former Yobe State governor, Bukar Abba-Ibrahim. She has been in the National Assembly since 2007, representing Damaturu/Gujba/Gulani/Tarmuwa Federal Constituency in Yobe State.
Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe
Enyinnaya Abaribe is a Nigerian senator representing Abia South Senatorial District since 2007. He has held various positions, including Senate Minority Leader (2019-2022).
Hon. Idris Wase
Ahmed Idris Wase is a Nigerian politician serving as a member of the House of Representatives since 2007, representing Wase Federal Constituency in Plateau State. He previously served as Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives from 2019 to 2023.
Hon. Muktar Betara
He is a member of the House of Representatives, representing Biu/Bayo/Shani Federal Constituency in Borno State. He was first elected in 2007 and has been representing the federal constituency since then.
Hon. Wole Oke
He is a member of the House of Representatives, representing Oriade/Obokun Federal Constituency in Osun State. He was first elected in 2003 on the PDP platform but lost re-election in 2011 and later re-elected under the platform of the PDP in 2015. He is currently a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Sen. Adamu Aliero
Adamu Aliero is a Nigerian Senator representing Kebbi North Senatorial District. He served as Governor of Kebbi State for eight years from 1999 to 2007 on the platform of the defunct ANPP. He was elected as a Senator in 2007 and he has been serving as one till date.
Sen. Adeola Olamilekan
Adeola Olamilekan, also known as Yayi, is a Nigerian senator, representing Ogun West Senatorial District. He was first elected as a member, House of Representatives, representing the Alimosho Federal Constituency in 2011. He served as Senator for Lagos West from 2015 to 2023.
Sen. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal
Aminu Tambuwal is a Nigerian Senator representing Sokoto South Senatorial in the National Assembly. He was first elected as a member of the House of Representatives in 2003. He served as a member representing the Tambuwal/Kebbe Federal Constituency of Sokoto State from 2003 to 2015.
Sen. Danjuma Goje
Danjuma Goje is a Nigerian senator representing Gombe Central Senatorial District. He is a former Governor of Gombe State. He was first elected as a Senator in 2011.
Sen. Ibrahim Gobir
Ibrahim Gobir is a Nigerian Senator representing Sokoto East Senatorial District. He was first elected in 2011 and has spent about 15 years in the Senate.
Hon. Abbas Tajudeen
Abbas Tajudeen is the current Speaker of the House of Representatives. He is representing the Zaria Federal Constituency in Kaduna State. He was first elected in 2011.
Hon. James Abiodun Faleke
James Faleke is a member of the House of Representatives, representing Ikeja Federal Constituency in Lagos. He has been serving as a Rep since 2011.
Hon. Kingsley Chinda
Kingsley Chinda is a member of the House of Representatives. He represents the Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency, Rivers State. He was first elected as a Rep in 2011.
