Nigeria’s Tinubu congratulates Lula da Silva on historic fourth presidential term win in Brazil 

Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has congratulated Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on his re-election as Brazil’s president, describing the victory as an opportunity to strengthen relations between the two countries.

In a social media post on Monday, October 26, Bola Tinubu expressed confidence that Lula’s renewed mandate would provide an opportunity for greater cooperation in trade, investment and other strategic sectors.

Lula secured a fourth, non-consecutive presidential term after defeating Senator Flávio Bolsonaro in Brazil’s presidential runoff election on Sunday, October 25. Official results showed that Lula won 51.79 per cent of valid votes, against 48.21 per cent for his opponent.

The Nigerian President described Nigeria and Brazil as two leading nations of the Global South and said closer ties between them could advance their shared interests amid changes in the global political and economic order.

Bola Tinubu also expressed his desire to expand cooperation between the two countries in areas including agriculture, food security, energy, oil and gas, manufacturing, science and technology, education, aviation and cultural exchange.

“Your renewed mandate offers an opportunity to strengthen the longstanding friendship and historical ties between Nigeria and Brazil,” Tinubu wrote.

“I look forward to expanding cooperation in trade and investment, agriculture and food security, energy, oil and gas, manufacturing, science and technology, education, aviation, and cultural exchange,” he added.

Lula’s victory marked a historic comeback in Brazil’s 2026 presidential election.

He had finished behind Flávio Bolsonaro in the first round on October 4 but overtook him in the runoff, becoming the first candidate in Brazil’s post-redemocratisation presidential elections to finish second in the first round and subsequently win the presidency in the second.

Lula previously served two consecutive presidential terms from 2003 to 2010 before returning to office in 2023.

His fourth term is scheduled to begin on January 5, 2027.