4th June, 2024
By Taiwo Okanlawon
The Nigerian political class has embraced social media as a valuable tool to reach out to their followers as well as members of the public.
Social networking websites like Facebook, Instagram X, Linkedin, TikTok and Google + have been used frequently by politicians to keep the public abreast of all their activities.
Instagram, has undoubtedly remained one of the most influential social media platform where public figures interact, actively using it to engage and reach out to their followers, followers and indeed, Nigerians.
PM News brings to you the top ten Nigerian politicians that are actively using Instagram frequently and effectively.
1. Senator Dino Melaye (2.8m Followers)
Senator Dino Melaye topped the list with over 2.8 million followers on Instagram. He is one of the most popular senators in Nigeria. He was a member of the 8th Nigeria National Assembly, representing Kogi West Senatorial district.
The Kogi-born former lawmaker flaunts his wealth on social media which helped him to attain popularity among Nigerians. Melaye is also very engaging, as his stand on various national discourses are always from an interesting angle. He was also the governorship candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Kogi State in 2023.
2. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (1.1M Followers)
Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the 16th and current president of Nigeria. He has been a prominent figure in the Nigerian political scene since the dawn of the fourth republic in 1999 and played a significant role in the agitation to return to democracy.
He was the governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007, and Senator for Lagos West in the Third Republic.
3. Professor Yemi Osinbajo (1M Followers)
Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) is a Nigerian lawyer, professor, and politician who served as the 14th vice president of Nigeria from 2015 to 2023. A member of the All Progressives Congress, he previously served as Attorney General of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007 and holds the title of Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
Osinbajo was also the pastor-in-charge of Lagos Province 48, Olive Tree Provincial Headquarters Parish, Ikoyi, before his inauguration as the Vice President of Nigeria. As a pastor, he uses social media platforms more often to relate to his audience on national and personal issues.
Osinbajo also contested the 2023 APC presidential primaries, where he came third and lost to President Tinubu, the eventual winner.
4. Peter Obi (993k Followers)
Peter Obi CON is a Nigerian politician and businessman, who was the vice presidential candidate in the 2019 Nigerian general election under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). However, he left the party and became the presidential aspirant under the Labour Party for the 2023 Nigerian general election.
He served twice as the Governor of Anambra State from 2006 to 2010, and a second term until 2014. The former governor has advanced in both business and politics, amassed a reputation and wealth for himself, and his wealth provides him with nothing less than a pleasant life.
Peter Obi is not only a wealthy politician but also a successful businessman. He spent some time in the corporate world before venturing into politics.
5. Jide Sanwo-Olu (864k Followers)
Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu is a Nigerian politician who is currently serving as the governor of Lagos State since 2019, on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He was the Managing Director/CEO of Lagos State Development Property Corporation (LSDPC). He was also a 3-time Commissioner in Lagos State, having served in the Ministries of Economic Planning & Budget, Commerce & Industry, and the Ministry of Establishments, Training & Pensions.
It will be a political suicide to preside over Nigeria’s mega city and not be active on social media. The governor’s media team is aware of this fact and they have ensured that the governor’s activities are well documented via his social media pages.
6. Atiku Abubakar (733k Followers)
Atiku Abubakar GCON is a Nigerian politician and businessman who served as the vice president of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007 during the presidency of Olusegun Obasanjo.
Abubakar worked in the Nigeria Customs Service for twenty years, rising to become the Deputy Director, as the second highest position in the Service was then known; he retired in April 1989 and took up full-time business and politics.
He ran as governor of Adamawa State in 1990, 1996, and in 1998, when he was finally elected before he became Obasanjo’s running mate during the 1999 presidential election and was re-elected in 2003. Atiku Abubakar ran unsuccessfully for President of Nigeria six times, in 1993, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, and 2023.
In a recent interview, Atiku says he will continue to run for the presidency of Nigeria if he is healthy, despite the challenges his party. Atiku has ran to become Nigeria’s President for six times within three decades.
7. Bukola Saraki (675k Followers)
Abubakar Bukola Saraki MBBS CON is a Nigerian politician who served as the 13th president of the Nigerian Senate from 2015 to 2019.
He previously served as the governor of Kwara State from 2003 to 2011; and was elected to the Senate in 2011, under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), representing the Kwara Central Senatorial District, and then re-elected in the 2015 general elections under the party of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Saraki was very active on social media before he became Nigeria’s number three citizen. As a senator and chairman of the Senate Committee on the Environment in the 7th Senate, Saraki was always updating Nigerians on the activities of the committee, their legislative backing to government policies, and his contributions to the upper chamber during plenary.
Muhammadu Buhari (534k Followers)
Muhammadu Buhari GCFR is a Nigerian statesman who served as the President of Nigeria from 2015 to 2023. A retired Nigerian Army major general, he served as the country’s military head of state from 31 December 1983 to 27 August 1985, after taking power from the Shehu Shagari civilian government in a military coup d’état.
Buhari ran for president of Nigeria on the platform and support of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in 2003 and 2007 and on the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) platform in 2011. In December 2014, he emerged as the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress party for the 2015 general election. Buhari won the election, defeating incumbent President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. This was the first time in the history of Nigeria that an incumbent president lost a general election. He was sworn in on 29 May 2015. In February 2019, Buhari was re-elected, defeating his closest rival, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, by over 3 million votes.
9. Akinwunmi Ambode (460k Followers)
Akinwunmi Ambode is a Nigerian politician who served as governor of Lagos State from 2015 to 2019. He was a civil servant for 27 years and a financial consultant before running for public office.
Just like Governor Sanwo-Olu, to preside over Nigeria’s mega city and not be active on social media is impossible.
10. Femi Fani-Kayode (248k Followers)
Femi Fani-Kayode is a Nigerian politician, essayist, poet, and lawyer. He is a member of the ruling All Progressive Congress.
He was appointed the Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from June 22nd to Nov 7th, 2006, and as the Minister of Aviation from Nov 7th, 2006 to May 29th, 2007.
Fani-Kayode is a very consistent contributor to Nigeria’s political discourse, and has gotten to a point where many of his followers always look forward to his own stand when a major issue comes up in the polity.