The Federal Government has debunked rumours that Nigeria was snubbed during the recent United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) election.
The government said contrary to reports circulating in some sections of the media, Nigeria did not participate in the October 9 election.
A statement yesterday in Abuja by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said Nigeria deliberately did not contest for this cycle of election, a decision it made last year.
The statement said Nigeria supported Benin and The Gambia, the endorsed candidates of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for the 2025-2027 term.
It urged the media to verify information before publishing it, cautioning Nigerians against disparaging their country on international matters.
“Contrary to information circulating, 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, just like it did not stand for election in 2023 when a Nigerian medium sensationally reported that the country earned three votes.
“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 October 9. 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.
“For those conversant with elections into international organisations, especially to prestigious bodies like the United Nations Human Rights Council, countries vying for positions usually receive regional endorsements.
“The regional bloc endorsed Benin Republic and The Gambia, both members of ECOWAS, for the 2025-2027 term.
“Given Nigeria’s continued leadership in fostering African unity, the nation focused on supporting the endorsed candidates to promote collective African representation…”
