Nigeria has granted asylum and special protection to Guinea-Bissau's main opposition presidential candidate, Fernando Dias da Costa, following a military coup that seized power after a disputed election.
The decision, authorised by President Bola Tinubu, was confirmed on Monday, December 1, 2025, and is a proactive measure responding to what Nigeria describes as an "imminent threat to his life."
Mr. da Costa, who ran against incumbent President Umaro Sissoco Embaló, is now being sheltered within the premises of the Nigerian Embassy in Bissau.
The move comes days after military officers, on November 26, announced they had taken "total control" of the country, suspended the electoral process, and closed borders.
This military takeover followed the November 23 election, where both President Embaló and Mr. da Costa prematurely claimed victory before the National Elections Commission (CNE) could announce provisional results.
Nigeria's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, informed the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Alieu Touray, of the asylum decision in a letter dated November 30.
The letter requested that the ECOWAS Stabilisation Support Mission in Guinea-Bissau (ESSMGB) be mandated to provide additional security for Mr. da Costa at the Nigerian embassy.
"Mr. President's decision is a proactive measure to ensure the safety of Mr. Da Costa, in response to imminent threats to his life," Minister Tuggar wrote.
Alkasim Abdulkadir, a spokesperson for the Foreign Minister, emphasised the de-escalation objective.
"The decision... falls squarely within Nigeria's sovereign responsibility and longstanding commitment to regional peace, stability, and democratic governance," Abdulkadir said in a statement.
"Nigeria exercised its lawful discretion to prevent further deterioration of tensions and promote social cohesion in Guinea-Bissau."
However, the nature of the coup itself remains a point of contention. Some observers have questioned the authenticity of the military takeover.
Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, who led the West African Elders Forum (WAEF) Election Mission observer group, hinted that the coup may have been "staged" by the deposed President Embaló to avoid an election defeat.
