The Federal Government has refuted claims that Nigeria was snubbed in the 2024 United Nations Human Rights Council elections, held on October 9.
Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who disclosed this in a statement to give further clarification on the election stated that Nigeria did not stand as a candidate for the elections in 2023 and 2024 but focused on supporting the endorsed candidates to promote collective African representation.
Onanuga posited that there was no competition in the African regional group, as the continent fielded the same number of candidates as available seats.
Onanuga reiterated that Nigeria was not on the ballot in the election, maintaining that whatever vote was recorded for the country must have been cast in error in the secret balloting by some countries which thought Nigeria was on the ballot.
He charged the media to always verify information before going to press, while he advised Nigerians to avoid running down the nation, especially on international matters.
The UN Human Rights Council election saw 18 new members elected for the 2025-2027 term.
These elected countries are expected to join the council on January 1, 2025.
The statement reads:
On October 9, 2024, the United Nations General Assembly elected 18 members to the Human Rights Council for the 2025-2027 term.
The members elected to the Council are Benin, Bolivia, Colombia, Cyprus, Czechia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Gambia, Iceland, Kenya, Marshall Islands, Mexico, North Macedonia, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Spain, Switzerland and Thailand.
The Council is an intergovernmental body within the UN system consisting of 47 states tasked with promoting and protecting human rights globally.
The election, conducted via secret ballot, determined which nations would fill three-year terms beginning on January 1, 2025, replacing members whose terms expire on December 31, 2024.
Among the outgoing members are Argentina, Benin, Cameroon, Eritrea, Finland, Gambia, Honduras, India, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Montenegro, Paraguay, Qatar, Somalia, United Arab Emirates and the United States.
According to a report on the meeting published by the UN, Argentina, Cameroon, Eritrea, India, and Somalia, which had served two consecutive terms, were ineligible for immediate re-election
Also, Albania, Algeria, Brazil, China, Ghana, Japan, and South Africa will continue serving on the Council.
In the African regional group, the endorsed candidates—Benin, Gambia, Kenya, DRC, and Ethiopia—successfully secured all five available seats.
For those conversant with elections into international organisations, especially to prestigious bodies like the Human Rights Council, countries vying for positions usually receive regional endorsements.
The regional bloc endorsed Benin and Gambia, both members of ECOWAS, for the 2025-2027 term.
Given Nigeria’s continued leadership in fostering African unity, the nation focused on supporting the endorsed candidates to promote collective African representation.
This has been the hallmark of President Bola Tinubu’s leadership on the continent. This strategic approach aligns with Nigeria’s long-standing diplomatic efforts to ensure Africa speaks with a united voice on the global stage.
Contrary to information circulating, Nigeria was not snubbed in this election, as some reports have falsely claimed.
The media should cross-check their information before rushing to press. There was no sign that this was done with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or our country’s mission in New York.
As Nigerians, we should not be quick to disparage or drag our country, especially on international matters
