Nigeria has been elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council for a three-year term beginning January 1, 2027, after securing 172 votes in the UN General Assembly election held on Tuesday, October 13.

Nigeria was among 15 countries elected to the council, which has 47 members.

The country secured one of four seats allocated to African nations, alongside Zambia, which received 177 votes, Ghana with 173 votes, and Burundi with 160 votes.

The council is responsible for promoting human rights globally, examining alleged violations and reviewing the human rights records of member states.

However, human rights organisations have criticised the election process because it was uncontested, with regional groups presenting the same number of candidates as available seats.

Nigeria’s membership offers an opportunity to participate in international human rights discussions while carrying the responsibility to uphold the council’s mandate.