The Presidency has dismissed allegations suggesting that Nigeria was unsuccessful in the recent United Nations Human Rights Council elections. Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, clarified the issue on Sunday, addressing controversies surrounding the elections held on October 9, 2024.
Onanuga explained that the UN General Assembly elected 18 new members to the Human Rights Council for the 2025-2027 term. The nations elected 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.
He emphasized that the Human Rights Council is an intergovernmental body comprising 47 member states, charged with promoting and protecting human rights worldwide. The election, conducted via secret ballot, determines the countries serving three-year terms, starting January 1, 2025, replacing those whose terms will expire on December 31, 2024.
Onanuga outlined that Argentina, Cameroon, Eritrea, India, and Somalia, having served two consecutive terms, were ineligible for immediate re-election. Additionally, nations like Albania, Algeria, Brazil, China, Ghana, Japan, and South Africa will continue their tenure on the council.
Regarding the African regional group, Onanuga stated that the endorsed candidates—Benin, Gambia, Kenya, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Ethiopia—secured all five available seats. He highlighted that there was no competition within the African bloc, as the number of candidates matched the available seats.
He refuted claims that Nigeria was snubbed in the election, stating that the country did not stand as a candidate for the 2025-2027 term. Onanuga pointed out that similar false claims were made in 2023 when reports wrongly suggested Nigeria earned three votes in a previous election. Any votes for Nigeria, he clarified, must have been cast in error by countries under the mistaken belief that Nigeria was on the ballot.
Onanuga concluded by emphasizing that Nigeria chose to support other African candidates, in line with its leadership role in promoting African unity. He urged the media to verify their information before publishing reports, especially on international matters, and noted that Nigeria continues to play a significant role on the global stage under President Bola Tinubu's leadership.
The Presidency remains committed to fostering collective African representation at international organizations like the Human Rights Council.
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