Akpabio, 11 Govs, 20 Senators, Among Premier List of 4th Republic ICONS

As Nigeria marks 26 years of uninterrupted democratic governance, OrderPaper Nigeria ihas announced commencement of the ICONS (Initiative for Celebrating Outstanding National Statespersons) of the Fourth Republic programme.

ICONS is a prestigious, legacy-driven programme created to celebrate exceptional individuals whose service in both the legislature and executive arms of government has significantly shaped the country’s governance landscape and democratic trajectory.

It entails the publication of the Book of Records, a premier legacy publication profiling confirmed ICONS with data-driven documentation of their journeys, legislative contributions, and executive footprints; and a historic digital archive capturing 25 years of impactful governance transitions and democratic service across both arms of government.

The book of records and digital archive will be presented at an exclusive award and gala night scheduled for August 2025 to celebrate the inductees and their legacies.

Dozens of politicians, both current and former officials, have been pre-selected as nominees for the premier edition of the Book of Records, which is billed to be unveiled at a high-profile event in August. 

Top on the list is President Bola Tinubu, Vice President KashimShettima, Senate President GodswillAkpabio, and First Lady RemiTinubu. Eleven governors also make the list: They are AhmaduFintiri of Adamawa State, BasseyOtu of Cross River State, Mohammed Bago of Niger State, Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, DouyeDiri of Bayelsa State, Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, AdemolaAdeleke of Osun State, UbaSani of Kaduna State, Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State, and Monday Okpebholo of Edo State.

Twenty-one incumbent senators have also been listed, including Orji Kalu, Ibrahim Dankwambo, YahayaAbdullahi, Simon Lalong, AminuTambuwal, Adams Oshiomhole, Seriake Dickson, AliyuWamakko, Mohammed Goje, AdamuAliero, EnyinnayaAbaribe, AbdulazizYari, Gbenga Daniel, Haruna Manu, IdiatAdebule, IkraBilbis, AbdulhamidMadori, Abubakar Bello, Abba Moro, and Ipalibo Harry. Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. (Prof.) Julius Ihonvbere joins the list from the 10th National Assembly.

Twenty-two members of the Tinubu cabinet will be vying for slots in the book of records, the first of its kind in the history of Nigeria.

They are led by Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President, and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume. Ministers who make the list are: Minister of State for Labour& Employment – Hon. NkeirukaOnyejeocha, Minister of Interior – Hon. OlubunmiTunji-Ojo, and Minister of Works – Sen. David Umahi.

Others are Minister of Foreign Affairs – Hon. Yusuf Tuggar, Minister for Regional Development – Hon. AbubakarMomoh, Minister of State for Agriculture & Food Security – Sen. (Dr.) AliyuAbdullahi, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas) – Hon. EkperikpeEkpo, Minister of State for Defence – Bello Matawalle, Minister of Police Affairs – Ibrahim Gaidam, Minister of Agriculture & Food Security – Sen. AbubakarKyari and Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil) – Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri.

Still others include: Minister of State for Trade and Investment – Sen. John OwanEnoh, Minister of Transportation – Sen. Saidu Alkali, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning – Sen. AbubakarBagudu, Minister of State for Labour& Employment – Hon. BitrusJalo, Minister of State for Water Resources and Sanitation – Hon. Bello Goronyo, and Minister of State for Education – Hon. Yusuf Sununu,

Some heads of parastatals and board chairs of statutory agencies also make the list. They include Sen. AjibolaBashiru, Sen. (Dr.) Ibrahim YahayaOloriegbe, Hon. OyetundeOladimejiOjo, Hon. Toby Okechukwu, Sen. AdedayoAdeyeye, Sen. Magnus Abe, Sen. TokunboAfikuyomi, Hon. Samuel Onuigbo, Hon. (Dr.) Samson Raphael Osagie, AbikeDabiri-Erewa, Sen. Ken Nnamani, Hon. Philip Shaibu, and Rt. Hon. YakubuDogara.

Former senior public officials on the list include Rt. Hon. ChibuikeRotimiAmaechi, Sen. IfeanyiOkowa, Sen. Benedict Ayade, Hon. EmekaIhedioha, Sen. Gabriel Suswam, Sen. LiyelImoke, Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim, Hon. DakukuPeterside, Hon. Victor OnyekachiOchei, Sen. IbikunleAmosun, Sen. BukolaSaraki, Sen. RabiuKwankwaso, Sen. Ibrahim Hadeija, Hon. Nwawuba, Rt. Hon. Ibrahim Bio, Sen. UdoUdoma, Rt. Hon. AminuMasari, Sen. RochasAnayoOkorocha, and ex-Gov. IfeanyiUgwuanyi.

Over the past two and a half decades, Nigeria has witnessed a unique phenomenon: the transition of hundreds of political leaders between the national and state legislatures to executive offices as governors, ministers, and heads of statutory agencies.

Likewise, many others have moved from the executive into legislative roles. This cross-sectoral experience between the legislative and executive arms gives rise to a distinct category of political actors whose influence on Nigeria’s democratic trajectory deserves proper curation and documentation but has yet to be holistically curated, recognised, or preserved.

This milestone initiative is a spin-off from a 2024 report by OrderPaper, which focused on political transitions from the legislature to the executive (FLEX), which the policy think tank now styles as the Facility for Legislative Executive Exchange (FLEX).

The report outlined, among other things, the character and composition of President Bola Tinubu’s administration. It has 22 cabinet members who are former legislators, including the president and vice president, both of whom served in the senate.

President Tinubu holds the record of transitioning the highest number of politicians from the legislature to the executive in a single administration.

Some of the ICONS featured in this programme reflect the depth and evolution of the FLEX phenomenon. For instance, Sen. GodswillAkpabio moved from serving as commissioner in AkwaIbom State (2002–2006) to governor of AkwaIbom State (2007–2015), then senator representing AkwaIbom North-west and minority leader (2015–2018), minister of Niger Delta Affairs (2019–2022), and currently serves as President of the Senate.

Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso is a former governor of Kano State, a former deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, and a former minister. Sen. AminuTambuwal is a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, a two-term governor of Sokoto state, and now a serving senator. Similarly, Hope Uzodinma transitioned from senator representing Imo-west to governor of Imo State.

Others include Sen. Orji Kalu, former governor of Abia state who now represents Abia north in the senate and served as Senate Majority Whip; and BukolaSaraki, who moved from being Special Assistant to the President on Budget (2000–2003) to governor of Kwara State (2003–2011), senator for Kwara Central (2011–2019), and President of the 8th Senate (2015–2019), amongst others.

Speaking on the initiative, OkeEpia, Chief Executive Officer of OrderPaper Nigeria and Convener of the ICONS programme, said: “The ICONS of the Fourth Republic honours the best of the best—leaders whose work has deepened our democratic experience and strengthened national development. These are individuals whose service must not only be celebrated but preserved for future generations.”

He explained that each nominee has been pre-selected through a rigorous, non-partisan, evidence-based vetting process, rooted in OrderPaper’s decade-long commitment to legislative accountability and civic engagement.

“ICONS of the Fourth Republic is more than a celebration—it is a national chronicle of excellence, service, and leadership,” he stressed.