Vice President Kashim Shettima will travel from Abuja to Libreville, Gabon, on Saturday, May 3, 2025, instead of his principal, President Bola Tinubu, to represent Nigeria at the inauguration of the newly elected President of Gabon, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema.
According to a statement from the vice president’s spokesman, Stanley Nkwocha, Oligui Nguema, who has been serving as Gabon’s interim leader since August 2023, achieved a significant victory in the presidential election held on April 12.
The final results from Gabon’s Constitutional Court indicate that Oligui Nguema received 58,074 votes, which is approximately 94.85% of the total votes cast.
He competed against seven other candidates, including former Prime Minister Alain Claude Bilie-By-Nze, who came in second with only 3% of the votes, while the remaining candidates did not exceed the 1% mark.
“Nigeria remains supportive of the peaceful democratic transition in Gabon and reaffirms the government’s broader strategic interest in promoting democratic governance and regional stability in Central Africa,” Nkwocha mentioned in the statement made available to journalists.
He disclosed that Shettima is expected to return to Nigeria immediately after the inauguration.
