Nigeria has been elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council for a three-year term beginning January 1, 2027.
The country secured 172 votes in Tuesday’s election conducted by the 193-member UN General Assembly in New York.
Nigeria was among 15 countries elected to serve on the Geneva-based council from 2027 to 2029.
The spokesperson for the President of the UN General Assembly, Melissa Summers, confirmed the election at the UN headquarters in New York.
Other African countries elected were Burundi, Ghana and Zambia, completing the four seats allocated to the African regional group.
According to the official election results, Zambia secured 177 votes, Ghana 173 and Burundi 160.
Nigeria’s election followed its endorsement by the African Group, which presented four candidates for the four available regional seats.
The General Assembly elected the new members through secret ballots in accordance with established procedures.
The Human Rights Council comprises 47 countries responsible for promoting and protecting human rights worldwide. Its seats are distributed geographically, with Africa and the Asia-Pacific region holding 13 each, Eastern Europe six, Latin America and the Caribbean eight, and Western Europe and others seven.
Council members serve three-year terms and cannot immediately seek re-election after serving two consecutive terms.
The council examines human rights situations, addresses alleged violations and makes recommendations to strengthen international human rights protection. It also conducts the Universal Periodic Review, through which the human rights records of all UN member states are examined.
Under General Assembly Resolution 60/251, council members are expected to uphold high standards in promoting and protecting human rights.
Nigeria’s election gives the country a role in international deliberations on human rights protection, accountability and institutional cooperation.
Nigeria will serve alongside other African countries, including Benin, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa and Angola.
The other newly elected countries include Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Uruguay, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Nepal, Moldova, Ukraine, Germany and Ireland.
The new members will assume office on January 1, 2027, replacing countries whose current terms expire on December 31, 2026.
