- Tijjani Muhammad-Bande-Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United Nations, has been elected as President of the 74th session of the UN General Assembly.
- The 193-member UNGA elected Muhammad-Bande, who had been nominated by Nigeria and endorsed by the African group, at the election by acclamation.
- Muhammad-Bande will be the second Nigerian UNGA president after Joseph Nanven Garba, who held the position between 1989 and 1990.
What is rule book?
- The office of the UNGA changes every year between the five geographic groups: African, Asian, Eastern European, Latin American and Caribbean, and Western European.
- In full respect of the established principle of geographical rotation and General Assembly resolution 33/138 of Dec. 19, 1978, the president of the 74th session of the UNGA was to be elected from the African states
- Muhammad-Bande was elected by acclamation and he will succeed Maria Fernanda Espinosa as the President of the next General Assembly session that will commence in September.
India’s position
- India had supported Muhammad-Bande’s candidature describing him as a great friend and a well-known son of Africa during an informal interactive dialogue with the Nigerian envoy last month
