United Nations Women Nigeria has disowned fundraising materials circulated by Gender & Development Action (GADA) in connection with preparations for Nigeria’s forthcoming general elections, warning that the initiative was neither authorised nor endorsed by the United Nations agency.
In a statement issued in Abuja, UN Women Nigeria said it became aware of materials linked to GADA that used the UN Women name, branding and logo of the Women Political Participation (WPP) Working Group while soliciting financial contributions for individual female political candidates.
The agency said the use of its identity alongside the fundraising appeals could create a false impression that UN Women or the WPP Working Group had endorsed, sponsored or supported the candidates or the fundraising initiative.
“As part of the United Nations system, UN Women is bound by the principles of impartiality, independence and political neutrality,” the organisation said, stressing that UN entities do not endorse, campaign for, support or oppose political parties or individual political candidates.
UN Women stated categorically that neither it nor the WPP Working Group authorised the use of its name, logo, branding or visual identity for fundraising activities intended to benefit individual candidates or electoral campaigns.
It further clarified that it does not endorse political candidates or parties, nor does it solicit, sponsor or facilitate fundraising for political candidates or campaigns.
According to the agency, GADA’s fundraising activities in question were neither endorsed, sponsored nor supported by UN Women or the WPP Working Group.
UN Women said it had formally communicated its concerns to GADA and directed the organisation to cease using the UN Women name, logo, branding and WPP-associated visual identity in connection with political fundraising.
It also requested the removal of the materials from GADA’s online and offline platforms and called for a public clarification stating that neither UN Women nor the WPP Working Group endorsed, sponsored or supported the fundraising initiative.
The agency, however, acknowledged the importance of its partnership with organisations working to advance women’s political participation in Nigeria, including GADA and other civil society organisations.
It stressed that such partnerships must operate strictly within the principles of impartiality, independence and political neutrality that guide the work of the United Nations.
UN Women reaffirmed its commitment to promoting women’s political participation, leadership and equal representation in governance through non-partisan and inclusive programmes that support women across political affiliations.
It emphasised that its efforts to advance women’s participation in politics should not be interpreted as an endorsement of any candidate, political party or electoral campaign.
The agency said it would continue collaborating with government, civil society organisations, women leaders, political stakeholders and other partners to create an enabling environment for all women, irrespective of political affiliation, to participate meaningfully and equally in political and public life.
UN Women therefore urged all stakeholders to refrain from using its name, logo or WPP Working Group branding in any manner that could imply UN endorsement of political fundraising, candidates or electoral campaigns.
