The Presidency don clear the air on the recent United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council election, saying Nigeria no dey fear or snubbed. According to the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Nigeria never stand as candidate for this cycle of elections.
Onanuga explain say the viral reports wey dey circulate, saying Nigeria dey excluded from the council, be false. He say, “Nigeria was not snubbed in this election, as some reports have falsely claimed. The country did not stand as a candidate for this cycle of elections.”
The UN General Assembly elect 18 new members to the Human Rights Council for the 2025-2027 term on October 9, 2024. The countries wey win 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.
Onanuga also talk about how the African regional group endorse candidates like Benin, Gambia, Kenya, DRC, and Ethiopia, and how dem fill the five available seats. He say, “There was no competition in the African group, as the number of candidates matched the available seats.”
Nigeria decide to focus on supporting the endorsed African candidates to promote collective African representation. Onanuga say, “Nigeria’s leadership on the continent remains unwavering, and the country’s strategic choice to back the endorsed candidates was in line with President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to fostering African unity.”
The Presidency also advise media outlets to verify their information before publication, criticizing the spread of false reports. Onanuga caution say, “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.”
