The Nigerian embassy in Guinea-Bissau has granted asylum to opposition presidential candidate Fernando Dias da Costa following reported threats to his life in the aftermath of the country’s disputed polls.
The move comes on the heels of last Wednesday’s military coup, which further heightened tension in the Portuguese-speaking West African nation barely days after its presidential election.
Before official results could be released, President Umaro Embaló and his main challenger, da Costa, had each claimed victory, deepening the political crisis.
Nigeria, expressing grave concern over the unfolding events, called for the immediate restoration of constitutional order and pledged to work with regional partners to ensure a swift return to stability.
In a letter addressed to Omar Touray, president of the ECOWAS Commission, foreign affairs minister Yusuf Tuggar disclosed that President Bola Tinubu had approved da Costa’s protection within the Nigerian mission in Bissau.
Tuggar, in the letter dated November 30, said Tinubu’s decision was in response to threats made against da Costa’s life.
“In this regard, it would be appreciated if you would kindly mandate the ECOWAS Stabilization Support Mission in Guinea-Bissau (ESSMGB) to provide him protection and security while in the premises of the Nigerian embassy,” the letter said.
Alkasim Abdulkadir, Tuggar’s special assistant on media and communications strategy, confirmed the authenticity of the communication, reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to safeguarding democratic governance in the region.
“The decision of the Federal Government of Nigeria to grant asylum and provide protection to Mr. Fernando Dia Da Costa falls squarely within Nigeria’s sovereign responsibility and longstanding commitment to regional peace, stability, and democratic governance,” Abdulkadir said in a statement.
“Acting in the broader interest of de-escalation, 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.”
He added that the intervention aligns with ECOWAS principles and reinforces Nigeria’s historic role as a stabilising force on the continent.
Following the coup, ECOWAS convened an emergency virtual summit of heads of state and subsequently announced the suspension of Guinea-Bissau from the bloc pending the restoration of constitutional governance.