Nigeria was not snubbed in UN Human Rights Council Election — Presidency
By Kunle Sanni
The Nigerian Presidency has refuted reports claiming that the country was snubbed in the recent United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council election.
In a statement released on Sunday, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, dismissed the viral claims, clarifying that Nigeria did not participate in the election held on October 9, 2024, because it had not submitted its candidacy for the 2025-2027 term.
Onanuga explained that the reports of Nigeria’s exclusion were unfounded, as the country had chosen not to contest for a seat in this cycle. He noted that the UN General Assembly had elected 18 new members to the Human Rights Council, with Nigeria’s absence due to a deliberate decision, not a snub.
He outlined the newly elected members: “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 Human Rights Council, an intergovernmental body within the UN, consists of 47 member states tasked with promoting and protecting human rights globally. The election, conducted by secret ballot, determines which nations will serve three-year terms starting on January 1, 2025, replacing outgoing members whose terms end on December 31, 2024.
The statement also highlighted that several countries, including Argentina, Cameroon, Eritrea, India, and Somalia, were ineligible for re-election, having served two consecutive terms. Onanuga emphasized that there was no competition in the African regional group, as the number of candidates—Benin, Gambia, Kenya, DRC, and Ethiopia—matched the available seats.
Onanuga clarified that any votes recorded for Nigeria during the secret ballot were likely cast in error by countries that mistakenly believed Nigeria was on the ballot. He also stressed that Nigeria’s focus was on supporting other African candidates, in line with its commitment to regional unity and ensuring Africa speaks with a united voice on global issues.
The Presidency urged media outlets to verify information before publication, pointing out that there had been no consultation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Nigeria’s mission in New York before these reports were published.
Onanuga concluded by appealing to national pride, stating, “As Nigerians, we should not be quick to disparage or drag our country, especially on international matters.”
