Nigeria may get UN Security Council seat this week – The Guardian
October 12, 2009 by Bunmi Awolusi
Nigeria is set to become a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) this week when voting starts.
The country was endorsed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in June this year as well as the African Union (this July in Sirte), but it still needs two-thirds majority in the voting by secret ballot to be done by the 129-member organisation.
The more country-votes a particular candidate gets, the more prestige and credibility accrues to it as it functions.
The provision that only the countries that are present would vote sparked off a series of diplomatic campaigns by the Nigerian Mission to the UN beginning last week with a meeting with Island states in New York.
It was followed by meetings with African ambassadors to be rounded up with working understanding with ambassadors (permanent representatives of other regions).
