Nigeria has secured a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) after polling 172 votes out of 181 in a secret ballot held at the General Assembly in New York.
The election took place on Tuesday, 13 October 2026, with Nigeria among four African states elected alongside Burundi, Ghana and Zambia.
The 15 newly elected members will serve three-year terms running from 1 January 2027 to 31 December 2029.
Other nations elected include Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Nepal, the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine and Uruguay.
The UNHRC is an intergovernmental body based in Geneva responsible for promoting and protecting human rights worldwide, comprising 47 member states with roughly one-third replaced annually.
Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the outcome, describing it as a milestone in the country’s international engagement.
Uncontested Vote Draws Criticism
All 15 candidates ran unchallenged this year, prompting sharp criticism from human rights organisations.
Louis Charbonneau, United Nations director at Human Rights Watch, said the uncompetitive vote “makes a mockery of the word ‘election‘”.
He called on member states to insist on competitive slates so candidates with poor human rights records can be rejected.
Human Rights Watch specifically urged Nigeria to ensure accountability for serious crimes committed during the conflict with the armed group Boko Haram, including by security forces.
Burundi’s re-election also drew concern, with the group citing its documented history of atrocity crimes and failure to cooperate with council mechanisms.
Nigeria’s election carries obligations under UN General Assembly Resolution 60/251, which requires members to uphold the highest human rights standards and cooperate fully with the council’s procedures.
