Nigeria Grants Guinea-Bissau Opposition Candidate Assylum over Coup

Nigeria has stepped in to offer temporary asylum to Guinea-Bissau presidential contender Fernando Dia Da Costa after intelligence reports indicated credible threats to his life, raising fresh concerns about candidate safety and election integrity in the country.

The Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs outlined the decision in a letter sent to the ECOWAS Commission on November 30, 2025, signalling official recognition of the risks surrounding the political climate in Bissau.

Analysts say the move suggests heightened scrutiny over human rights violations and the vulnerability of opposition actors during the tense election period.

Al-Kasim Abdulkadir, spokesperson for the ministry, confirmed that Nigeria acted to protect Mr. Da Costa under its sovereign mandate.

He explained that extending asylum is consistent with Nigeria’s commitments under ECOWAS frameworks and demonstrates Abuja’s stance against political intimidation in the region.

He added that Nigeria’s priority is to safeguard human security and prevent any developments that could delegitimise the electoral process. With the presidential run-off election approaching later this month, observers believe the asylum decision may influence regional engagement and the broader conversation on democratic resilience in West Africa.