The Tinubu-led presidency has dismissed reports circulating online that Nigeria was snubbed in the recent Human Rights Council elections at the United Nations.

According to the presidency, Nigeria was not a candidate in the 2024 cycle of UN Human Rights Council Elections, refuting claims that the country lost to other African countries in the just concluded UN polls.

On October 9, 2024, the United Nations General Assembly 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. Nigeria was reportedly snubbed from being a member of the body due to its human rights record but Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga stated that Nigeria didn’t come out for the HR election but mainly focused on supporting the five endorsed candidates to promote collective African representation.

Onanuga said that “West African regional bloc endorsed Benin and Gambia, both members of ECOWAS, for the 2025-2027 term, to serve in the UN Human Rights Council.”

He said the endorsed candidates in the African regional group include Benin, Gambia, Kenya, DRC, and Ethiopia, adding that they successfully secured all five available seats.

Onanuga said;

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

“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.”

Onanuga said any votes recorded for Nigeria was cast in error in the secret balloting by some other countries which thought Nigeria was on the ballot.

“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.

“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,” said the presidential aide.