Bayo Onanuga, the president’s senior assistant on communications and strategy, said Nigeria was not overlooked in the United Nations Human Rights Council election.
On October 9, the UN General Assembly elected 18 members to the council in a secret ballot for the 2025-2027 term.
The council is an intergovernmental group inside the UN system made up of 47 countries entrusted with promoting and safeguarding human rights worldwide.
Bolivia, Colombia, Cyprus, Czechia, Iceland, the Marshall Islands, Mexico, North Macedonia, Qatar, the Republic of Korea, Spain, Switzerland, and Thailand were among those newly elected.
In the African regional group, the recommended candidates — Benin, Gambia, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Ethiopia — won all five open seats.
On Saturday, there were reports that the human rights council had ignored Nigeria in the election.
However, in a statement released on Sunday, Onanuga stated that there was no competition in the African regional group because the continent fielded the same number of candidates as available seats.
The statement reads:
” The country did not stand as a candidate for this cycle of elections, just like it did not stand for election in 2023 when a Nigerian medium sensationally reported that the country earned three votes. “
” The same lie was rehashed in the erroneous report in circulation. Again, we restate that Nigeria was not on the ballot in the election held on 9 October. Whatever vote was recorded for our country must have been cast in error in the secret balloting by some countries which thought Nigeria was on the ballot.
” 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.
” The media should cross-check their information before rushing to press. There was no sign 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. “