Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, has clarified that Nigeria was not snubbed in the recent 2024 UN Human Rights Council election, contrary to some reports.
In a statement titled “Setting the Record Straight,” Onanuga emphasized that Nigeria did not stand as a candidate for this election cycle, similar to its position in 2023.
He noted that the erroneous reports claiming Nigeria had received three votes in the past election were misleading, stating, “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.”
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Onanuga explained that countries vying for positions on the Human Rights Council typically receive regional endorsements, and this year, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) endorsed Benin and Gambia for the 2025-2027 term.
He reiterated that Nigeria is focused on supporting these endorsed candidates to promote collective African representation, highlighting this approach as a key aspect of President Bola Tinubu’s leadership in fostering African unity.
He urged the media to verify their information before publication, criticizing reports that did not consult the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Nigeria’s mission in New York. Onanuga stated,
“As Nigerians, we should not be quick to disparage or drag our country, especially on international matters.”
On October 9, the UN General Assembly elected 18 members to the Human Rights Council for the 2025-2027 term.
The elected members include 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.
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Onanuga explained that the Council consists of 47 States responsible for promoting and protecting human rights globally.
He noted that the election was conducted via secret ballot, determining which nations would fill three-year terms starting on January 1, 2025.
The outgoing members of the Council include Argentina, Benin, Cameroon, Eritrea, Finland, Gambia, Honduras, India, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Montenegro, Paraguay, Qatar, Somalia, United Arab Emirates, and the United States.
He further clarified that Argentina, Cameroon, Eritrea, India, and Somalia were ineligible for immediate re-election after serving two consecutive terms.
In the African regional group, the endorsed candidates—Benin, Gambia, Kenya, DRC, and Ethiopia—successfully secured all five available seats, as there was no competition for those positions.
