The United Kingdom has urged Nigeria to undertake broad electoral reforms ahead of the 2027 general elections, stressing the need to address issues such as vote-buying, voter interference and technical problems linked to the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System.
The call was contained in a post-election assessment released by the British High Commission in Abuja on Monday following the Osun State governorship election.
The Commission congratulated Governor Ademola Adeleke on his re-election and praised the people of Osun for maintaining peace throughout the August 15 poll.
According to the UK government, the election provided important lessons that should guide electoral reforms and preparations ahead of the 2027 elections.
The British High Commission said its officials consulted with various stakeholders before the election and deployed accredited observers to different parts of Osun State to independently assess the voting process.
It said the findings of its observers, which were also consistent with reports from reputable domestic election monitoring organisations, pointed to several positive developments.
The Commission highlighted the early commencement of voting at many polling units, the conduct of security personnel in maintaining order, and INEC officials’ compliance with established electoral guidelines.
It also commended Osun voters for showing patience, resilience and dedication throughout the exercise.
“Based on their observations, and consistent with the findings of credible independent observer groups with wider deployments across the state, we welcome several encouraging signs of a positive democratic process,” the Commission said.
However, the UK stressed that challenges recorded during the election must not be overlooked, particularly vote-buying, interference with voters and difficulties associated with the BVAS.
It said addressing these concerns before 2027 would be critical to improving the credibility of future elections and strengthening Nigerians’ confidence in the democratic process.
