The Nigerian government has granted asylum and special protection to Fernando Costa, the main opposition presidential candidate in Guinea-Bissau, following reports of imminent threats to his life amid a political crisis in the West African nation.
Costa, who challenged incumbent President Umaro Embalo in the November 23, 2025, presidential election, was placed under protection at the Nigerian Embassy in Bissau after the military seized power just hours before election results were to be announced, suspended the polls, and imposed a nationwide curfew.
In a letter to the President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, Omar Alieu Touray, dated November 30, and signed by the Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, the federal government explained that the decision reflects Nigeria’s commitment to safeguarding democratic processes and ensuring the safety of political actors in the region.
“I write to inform you that His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GON, has graciously approved the provision of protection and security in the premises of the Nigerian Embassy in the Republic of Guinea-Bissau for Mr Fernando Dia Da Costa.
President’s decision is a proactive measure to ensure the safety of Mr Da Costa in response to imminent threats to his life,” the letter read.
The letter also requested that ECOWAS direct its Stabilisation Support Mission in Guinea-Bissau (ESSMGB) to provide additional protection to Mr Costa within the embassy grounds.
Speaking on the intervention, the spokesperson for the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Alkasim Abdulkadir, said,
“Nigeria exercised its lawful discretion to prevent further deterioration of tensions and to promote social cohesion in Guinea-Bissau and the wider West African sub-region.
This intervention is guided solely by the imperatives of peace, human security, and regional stability, in line with ECOWAS principles and Nigeria’s historic role as a stabilising force in West Africa.
The coup in Guinea-Bissau has drawn widespread criticism across West Africa, with several governments and regional bodies urging a return to constitutional order.
Political coalitions supporting Mr Costa have described the military takeover as a last-minute attempt by President Embalo and his allies to prevent the announcement of election results.
Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, who led the West African Elders Forum Election Observation Mission in Guinea-Bissau, cast doubt on the legitimacy of the coup, saying, “What happened in Guinea-Bissau, I would not call it a coup; it was not a coup. For lack of a better word,
I will say it was a ceremonial coup because it was President Embaló who announced the coup before the military later came up to address the world that they were in charge of the government.”
Similarly, Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko condemned the takeover as a sham.
“What happened in Guinea-Bissau was a sham. We want the electoral process to continue. The commission must be able to declare the winner,” he said.
The Nigerian government’s move to grant asylum to Mr Costa is being widely seen as a stabilising measure intended to de-escalate rising tensions and preserve democratic integrity in Guinea-Bissau.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that Nigeria’s intervention aligns with its long-standing role in promoting peace and stability in West Africa.
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