The Nigerian presidency has dismissed claims that the country was snubbed in the recent United Nations Human Rights Council elections. Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, clarified on Sunday that Nigeria did not participate in the elections held on October 9, 2024, contrary to circulating reports.
Onanuga explained that the United Nations General Assembly elected 18 new members to serve on the Human Rights Council for the 2025-2027 term, including Benin, Gambia, Kenya, Ethiopia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo from the African region.
He emphasized that Nigeria did not submit a candidacy for this election cycle. “Nigeria was not on the ballot in the election held on October 9. Any vote recorded for Nigeria must have been cast in error, as the country did not contest in the election,” he stated.
According to Onanuga, the five available seats in the African regional group were uncontested, as the number of candidates equaled the number of seats. Benin and Gambia, both ECOWAS members, were endorsed by the regional bloc, with Nigeria choosing to support these candidates.
“Nigeria focused on supporting the endorsed African candidates as part of its commitment to African unity. This is in line with President Bola Tinubu’s leadership, promoting a collective African voice on global platforms,” Onanuga added.
He also urged the media to verify their reports before publication, noting, “There was no effort to confirm this misinformation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Nigeria’s mission in New York. Nigerians should not be quick to disparage their country, especially on international matters.”
The presidency reaffirmed Nigeria’s strategic role in global diplomacy and its decision to prioritize collective African representation over pursuing individual positions at this time.
