Vice President Kashim Shettima has traveled to Libreville, Gabon, to represent Nigeria at the inauguration of Gabon’s President-elect, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema.
According to a statement by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Communications (Office of the Vice President), Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima departed on Saturday at the request of President Bola Tinubu.
Oligui Nguema, who has served as Gabon’s interim leader since August 2023, won a decisive victory in the country’s April 12 presidential election. He led a coup that ended 55 years of Bongo family rule and won nearly 95% of the vote in last month’s polls.
The Nigerian government remains committed to supporting Gabon’s peaceful transition to democracy and reaffirms its broader interest in promoting democratic governance and regional stability in Central Africa.
Several African heads of state, including Gambia’s Adama Barrow, Senegal’s Bassirou Diomaye Faye, Djibouti’s Ismail Omar Guelleh, and Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea, are expected to attend the inauguration at a 40,000-capacity stadium in Libreville.
Vice President Shettima is expected to return to Nigeria after the inauguration.
