Vice President Kashim Shettima is scheduled to depart Abuja on Saturday for Libreville, Gabon, where he will attend the inauguration of the country’s President-elect, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema.
Shettima will be representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is presently on a two-day official visit to Katsina State.
Oligui Nguema has been serving as Gabon’s transitional leader since August 2023.
He emerged victorious in the April 12 presidential election, securing 58,074 votes, amounting to 94.85 percent of the total ballots cast, according to final figures released by Gabon’s Constitutional Court.
Among the seven candidates he contested against was former Prime Minister Alain Claude Bilie-By-Nze, who came in second with just 3 percent of the vote.
The remaining contenders each failed to attain even 1 percent.
In a statement issued by Stanley Nkwocha, spokesman for the Vice President, he noted: “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 also confirmed that “the Vice President is expected to return to Nigeria after the inauguration.”
