Late Senator Nwafor Orizu was the first Acting President of Nigeria.
He became acting President after the President, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, left the country for Europe, according to online repository, Wikipedia.com.
He was Nigeria's second Senate President from
November 16, 1960 to January 15, 1966.
According to Wikipedia, Orizu under the law became acting President and had all the powers of the President.
Wikipedia.com gives more insight, "In 1966, Nigeria had Orizu as President of the Senate. In the confusion that followed the first military coup d'tat, Nwafor Orizu, as Acting President, handed over power to Gen. Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, commanding the Nigerian Army."
Orizu made a nationwide broadcast, reading a military prepared speech, announcing the cabinet's 'voluntary' decision to transfer power to the armed forces. Ironsi then made his own broadcast, accepting the 'invitation.'
"Until recently, eyewitness testimony made it apparent, it had always been assumed in the press that the handover was voluntary, although unconstitutional. However, it does seem that as far back as 1969, the press had uncovered the involuntary nature of the so-called handover.
On January 17, Ironsi established the Supreme Military Council in Lagos and announced Decree No. 1, effectively suspending the Constitution. Later that day, Major Chukwuma Nzeogwu, the leader of the revolt in the northern region negotiated a conditional surrender in which Ironsi agreed not to bring the mutineers to military trial. Although the mutiny was practically over, military rule had arrived. Nigeria's first democratic experiment was effectively over. This would set up the Biafran War. Afterwards, Orizu faded from the political scene the moment he transferred power to Ironsi.
