A statement issued on Saturday by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Communications (Office of the Vice President), revealed that Vice President Kashim Shettima traveled to Gabon at the request of President Bola Tinubu. Shettima’s presence at the event is part of Nigeria’s ongoing support for the peaceful transition of power in Gabon.
Oligui Nguema, who had been serving as Gabon’s interim leader since August 2023 following a coup that ended the long-standing Bongo family rule, secured a landslide victory in the country’s presidential elections on April 12. Nguema, who led a 19-month transition government after toppling Ali Bongo, will officially be sworn in as the new president of Gabon on Saturday.
Nigeria has reiterated its commitment to supporting Gabon’s democratic transition and its broader efforts to promote democratic governance and regional stability in Central Africa. The statement also confirmed that Vice President Shettima is expected to return to Nigeria following the inauguration.
The swearing-in ceremony, which is set to take place in a stadium with a capacity of 40,000 people located north of Libreville, the capital of Gabon, will be attended by several African heads of state. Notable leaders expected to attend include Gambia’s President Adama Barrow, Senegal’s Bassirou Diomaye Faye, Djibouti’s Ismail Omar Guelleh, and Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea.
