Nigeria has been elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for a three-year term from 2027 to 2029 after securing 172 votes in an election conducted by the UN General Assembly.
Gatekeepers News reportd that the election took place on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, with Nigeria among 15 countries chosen to serve on the 47-member council.
The council announced the election on its official X account, listing Nigeria among the successful candidates for the next term.
The other countries elected are Brazil, Burundi, the Dominican Republic, Germany, Ghana, Ireland, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Nepal, the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine, Uruguay and Zambia.
Nigeria secured 172 votes out of 181 valid votes cast, according to the Federal Government. Its membership will begin on January 1, 2027, and end on December 31, 2029.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had declared Nigeria’s candidacy in February 2026, with Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar highlighting the country’s commitment to cooperating with the council’s mechanisms for promoting and protecting human rights.
At the time, the government also pledged to support safe schools, improve security in learning environments and strengthen accountability in internal security operations, with an emphasis on protecting civilians.
The United Nations Human Rights Council is an intergovernmental body responsible for promoting and protecting human rights worldwide. It reviews the human rights records of countries, investigates alleged violations through independent mechanisms and makes recommendations on situations requiring international attention.
The council has 47 member states elected by the UN General Assembly, with seats allocated among regional groups to ensure geographical representation.
Nigeria’s previous membership ended in 2020 after the country served from 2018 to 2020.
However, the latest election has drawn criticism from human rights organisations because the regional groups nominated exactly as many candidates as there were available seats, leaving no competitive races. Human Rights Watch criticised the process, arguing that uncontested elections could allow countries with poor human rights records to join the council without meaningful competition.
Nigeria’s election therefore places the country among the states expected to contribute to international discussions on human rights protection, accountability and fundamental freedoms during the 2027–2029 term.
