The United Kingdom has congratulated Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, on his re-election, while raising concerns over vote-buying, voter interference, accessibility for persons with disabilities and elderly voters, and challenges associated with the deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) during the August 15 governorship election.
The British High Commission, in a statement on Monday, commended the people of Osun for their peaceful and active participation in the poll, but urged Nigerian electoral authorities and other stakeholders to address shortcomings identified during the election ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Commission said it had engaged a broad range of stakeholders before election day and deployed accredited observers across the state to monitor the process.
Based on observations by its teams, as well as findings from credible independent observer organisations with wider coverage, the UK said several aspects of the election were encouraging.
It cited the opening of many polling units as scheduled, the commitment of security personnel to maintaining order and the effective implementation of electoral procedures by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The British government also commended the resilience and participation of voters throughout the election.
However, it said the largely peaceful conduct of the poll did not eliminate concerns over practices capable of undermining electoral credibility.
The High Commission noted reports of isolated incidents that generated tension before and during the election, alongside continuing voter interference, including vote-buying by supporters of different political parties.
It also expressed concern over inadequate accessibility of the electoral process for persons with disabilities and elderly voters.
Another major issue highlighted was overcrowding at some polling locations, which the Commission linked partly to the limited availability and slow deployment of BVAS devices for voter accreditation.
The UK urged relevant Nigerian institutions to review the challenges identified during the election and apply the lessons to future polls.
It specifically pointed to recommendations by credible civil society election-monitoring organisations, including the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, as useful inputs for improving transparency, accountability and public confidence in the electoral process.
Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, the British High Commission warned that some of the operational advantages available during an off-cycle governorship election may be harder to replicate during nationwide elections.
It noted that the larger scale of a general election could make it more difficult to deploy additional personnel and resources to address operational challenges.
The Commission therefore urged electoral stakeholders to use the Osun experience to identify weaknesses and implement corrective measures before the 2027 elections.
It said the lessons from the poll should contribute to stronger electoral integrity, greater inclusiveness and more credible elections.
The UK also reaffirmed its commitment to working with Nigeria’s electoral institutions, civil society organisations and other partners to promote peaceful, transparent, inclusive and credible elections.
According to the Commission, strengthening Nigeria’s democratic institutions remains central to its engagement with the country.
The statement followed the declaration by INEC of Adeleke as winner of the August 15 governorship election, securing another term after defeating his major challenger, Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress.
The Osun election was closely watched as an important test of Nigeria’s electoral reforms and preparedness for the 2027 general elections.
While commending the peaceful participation of voters and other positive aspects of the poll, the UK’s concerns over vote-buying, accessibility and BVAS deployment have renewed calls for electoral authorities and political actors to address persistent weaknesses before the next nationwide elections.
