Ernest Shonekan (born 1936) is a Nigerian businessman and politician. He was appointed as interim president by General Ibrahim Babangida on August 26 1993. Babangida resigned under pressure to cede control to a democratic government. Shonekan's transitional administration only lasted three months, as a coup led by Sani Abacha brought the government back under military control on November 17. Prior to his political career, Shonekan was an executive with the United African Company (UAC), a large Nigerian conglomerate.