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The Nigerian government has granted special protection to the Guinea-Bissau presidential candidate, Fernando Costa, due to reports of imminent threats to his life, Premium Times reports.
Costa had been the main opposition candidate to incumbent President Umaro Embalo in the 2025 presidential election, held on 23 November.
The media had reported thatvhours before the results were to be announced, the military however seized power, suspended elections, and imposed a curfew.
According to the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, President Bola Tinubu had approved the decision to place Costa under protection within the Nigerian Embassy premises in Guinea-Bissau.
A letter addressed to the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Alieu Touray, dated November 30, and signed by the Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, stated that the decision reflects Nigeria’s commitment to safeguarding democratic processes and ensuring the safety of political actors in the region.
The letter also requested ECOWAS to direct its Stabilisation Support Mission in Guinea-Bissau to provide Costa with additional protection within the embassy grounds.
“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,” the letter said.
President’s decision was a proactive measure to ensure the safety of Costa in response to imminent threats to his life.
“The decision to accommodate Mr Da Costa within the Nigerian premises underscores our firm commitment to safeguarding the democratic aspirations and the sovereign will of the good people of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau.
Read More: What happened in Guinea-Bissau was a ceremonial coup — Jonathan
“In this regard, it would be appreciated if you would kindly mandate the ECOWAS Stabilisation Support Mission in Guinea-Bissau (ESSMGB) to provide him protection and security while in the premises of the Nigerian Embassy,” the letter read in part.
Since the news broke, the coup has drawn criticism across West Africa, with several governments and regional blocs calling for a return to constitutional order, however, some leaders have also accused the ousted president, Mr Embalo, of staging the coup to prevent the announcement of the election result.
Nigeria’s former president, Goodluck Jonathan, who led the West African Elders Forum Election Observation Mission to monitor the election, said Mr Embaló’s swift declaration to international media on his phone that he had been “arrested” cast doubt on the plausibility of the claim.
“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,” he said.
Similarly, Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko described the coup as a sham.
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