*Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, avers that Nigeria did even not stand as a candidate for this cycle of the United Nations General Assembly election held October 9, 2024, just like the West African country did not stand for election in 2023, when a news medium erroneously and sensationally reported that 鈥榯he country earned three votes鈥�

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

The Federal Government has clarified that contrary to information circulating, Nigeria was not snubbed in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) election held October 9, 2024, where the body elected 18 members to the Human Rights Council (HRC) for the 2025-2027 term, as some news reports have falsely claimed.

Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, who said this in a statement Sunday, October 13, averred that Nigeria 鈥渄id 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.鈥�

The Nigerian Government stated the same lie was rehashed in the erroneous report in circulation.

Onanuga asserted: 鈥淎gain, we restate that Nigeria was not on the ballot in the election held on 9 October.

鈥淲hatever 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.鈥�

It is noted that the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) October 9, 2024, elected 18 members to the Human Rights Council for the 2025-2027 term.

The members elected to the Council are 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 Council is an intergovernmental body within the UN system, consisting of 47 states tasked with promoting and protecting human rights globally.

The election, conducted via secret ballot, determined which nations would fill three-year terms beginning on January 1, 2025, replacing members whose terms expire on December 31, 2024.

Among the outgoing members are Argentina, Benin, Cameroon, Eritrea, Finland, Gambia, Honduras, India, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Montenegro, Paraguay, Qatar, Somalia, United Arab Emirates, and the United States (US).

According to a report on the meeting published by the UN, Argentina, Cameroon, Eritrea, India and Somalia, which had served two consecutive terms, were ineligible for immediate re-election.

Also, Albania, Algeria, Brazil, China, Ghana, Japan, and South Africa will continue serving on the Council.

In the African regional group, the endorsed candidates鈥擝enin, Gambia, Kenya, DRC, and Ethiopia鈥攕uccessfully secured all five available seats.

There was no competition in the African regional group, as the continent fielded the same number of candidates as available seats.

The statement reiterated that whatever vote was recorded for the country 鈥渕ust have been cast in error in the secret balloting by some countries which thought Nigeria was on the ballot鈥� in the first instance.

The Presidential aide further explained that 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 The Gambia, both members of ECOWAS, for the 2025-2027 term.

Given Nigeria’s continued leadership in fostering African unity, the government noted the country focused on 鈥渟upporting the endorsed candidates to promote collective African representation.鈥�

Onanuga stated: 鈥淭his has been the hallmark of President Bola Tinubu鈥檚 leadership on the continent.

鈥淭his strategic approach aligns with Nigeria鈥檚 long-standing diplomatic efforts to ensure Africa speaks with a united voice on the global stage.鈥�

The Presidency said: 鈥淭he media should cross-check their information before rushing to press.

鈥淭here was no sign this was done with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or our country鈥檚 mission in New York.

鈥淎s Nigerians, we should not be quick to disparage or drag our country, especially on international matters.鈥�

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