UK Government Reacts to Ekiti Guber Polls, Gives Verdict
The United Kingdom government has released its verdict on the June 20 governorship election in Ekiti State, praising the overall peaceful conduct of the exercise while raising critical concerns over technical glitches and the accessibility of polling stations.
In a statement issued through the British High Commission in Abuja, the UK government congratulated the voters of Ekiti State for their participation and extended congratulations to Governor Abiodun Oyebanji of the All Progress Congress (APC) on his re-election victory.
The commission welcomed the peaceful and orderly delivery of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, and other local stakeholders, noting a positive collaboration on the ground that kept voting mostly peaceful.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that the election marked the first major test under the new Electoral Act 2026 and its associated guidelines. Ahead of the polls, a team of British High Commission observers met with key stakeholders, including police and INEC representatives, to understand how the new legal framework was being implemented.
While the observer team commended the prioritisation of vulnerable voters at several polling units, they expressed reservations regarding the physical layout of the voting areas.
“While our team noted the prioritisation of vulnerable voters at several polling units, which is commendable, the physical location and set-up of most polling units visited were inaccessible to voters with disabilities.”
The UK government encouraged continued collaboration among Nigerian stakeholders to scale up good practices at all polling units ahead of the general elections in 2027.
The British observer team also reported notable technical challenges involving the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) across multiple locations.
“Our observers also noted delays to the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) at some polling units, which slowed down voting. Technical issues risk undermining voter confidence in electoral systems and can discourage turnout.”
Beyond technical hitches, the international observers expressed concern over malpractices in the field.
“Our observation team were concerned to see instances of vote trading and interference by party agents at polling units visited. Vote trading erodes public confidence and undermines the democratic process. We call on all actors to take urgent steps to address this corrosive practice.”
Looking forward, the UK government urged Nigerian electoral authorities and political actors to immediately absorb these lessons from Ekiti as the next off-cycle election approaches in Osun State. The statement emphasized that as Nigeria moves toward the 2027 general elections, maintaining a credible process will be vital for public confidence in democratic institutions, national progress, and Nigeria’s leadership role across Africa.
The UK reaffirmed its readiness to work alongside the Nigerian government and civil society groups to champion credible electoral processes, strengthen public institutions, and support organizations working toward a more inclusive and accountable system.
