Muhammadu Buhari, who left office in 2023 after serving two terms, made Nigerian political history as the first opposition candidate to defeat a sitting president at the ballot box. The rake-thin 82-year-old Muslim from the far north of Africa's most populous nation made political history as the first opposition candidate to defeat a sitting leader at the ballot box in 2015.

Muhammadu Buhari's life tracked the dramatic changes in politics in Nigeria over the last five decades – and he was often at the centre of events.

Buhari, 82, also served as military head of state between January 1984 and August 1985, the spokesperson said.