Politics of Nigeria take place in a framework of a federal presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the President of Nigeria (Umaru Musa Yar'Adua) is both head of state and head of government, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the two chambers of the legislature, the House of Representatives and the Senate. Together the two chambers make up the law-making body in Nigeria called the National Assembly. The highest judiciary arm of government in Nigeria is the Supreme Court of Nigeria. Nigeria also practices Baron de Montesquieu's theory of the separation of powers. The National Assembly serves as a watchdog to the excesses of the executive arm of government.

Executive branch
The president is elected by the people. He is both the chief of state and head of government and heads the Federal Executive Council. Nigeria has a rotating presidency so that the three major regions of Nigeria (the North, the East, and the West) share political control of the country.

Legislative branch
The National Assembly of Nigeria has two chambers. The House of Representatives is presided upon by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. It has 360 members, elected for a four year term in single-seat constituencies. The Senate is presided upon by the President of the Senate. It has 109 members, elected for a four year term in 36 three-seat constituencies (corresponding to the country's 36 states) and one seat in a single-seat constituency (the federal capital, Abuja).

Judicial Branch
The judicial branch consists mainly of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, which is the highest court in the land. It is presided upon by the Chief Justice of Nigeria and thirteen associate justices, appointed by the President of Nigeria on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council and subject to confirmation by the Senate.

Foreign relations
Nigeria is currently in better foreign relations due to its current state of democracy though a fledging one and with the help of the former president Obasanjo. It is a member of the African Union and sits on that organization's Peace and Security Council. Since 1960 Nigeria has been a member of the UN and also joined the Commonwealth of Nations the same year, however they were briefly suspended between 1995 and 1999.