The British High Commission in Abuja has congratulated Governor Abiodun Abayomi Oyebanji on his re-election in the June 20, 2026 Ekiti State governorship election, while raising concerns over incidents of vote trading, party agent interference and technical challenges observed during the poll.
In a statement issued on June 22, 2026, the British High Commission commended voters in Ekiti State for their participation and commitment to the democratic process, describing the election as largely peaceful and orderly.
The mission stated: “The British High Commission in Abuja congratulates the voters in Ekiti State for their participation in the Governorship election held on 20 June 2026 and for their commitment to exercise their democratic rights. We also offer our congratulations to Governor Abiodun Abayomi Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on his re-election.”
The Commission also praised the conduct of the election by Independent National Electoral Commission, security agencies and other stakeholders, noting that the Ekiti poll was the first major electoral test under the Electoral Act 2026 and its accompanying guidelines.
According to the statement, British observers engaged with key stakeholders, including police authorities and INEC officials, before the election to assess the implementation of the new legal framework.
The High Commission said its observers witnessed positive collaboration between election officials and security personnel on election day, which contributed significantly to maintaining peace across polling units.
“On the day of the election, our observers witnessed positive collaboration between INEC officials and security agencies which played an important role in ensuring voting was mostly peaceful,” the statement said.
Despite the positive assessment, the Commission identified several areas of concern. It noted that while vulnerable voters were prioritised at some polling units, many voting centres remained physically inaccessible to persons living with disabilities.
The statement said, “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 British mission urged election stakeholders to improve accessibility ahead of future elections, particularly as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections.
The observers also reported operational challenges involving the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), saying delays experienced in some polling units slowed down the voting process and could affect public confidence in electoral technology.
“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,” the statement added.
More significantly, the High Commission expressed concern over cases of vote buying and interference by party agents during the election, warning that such practices threaten the credibility of the democratic process.
“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,” it stated.
Looking ahead to the forthcoming governorship election in Osun State, the British High Commission urged INEC, security agencies and political actors to draw lessons from the Ekiti experience and strengthen electoral safeguards.
The Commission further stressed the importance of credible elections as Nigeria moves closer to the 2027 general elections, noting that the integrity of future polls will be crucial for public trust in democratic institutions and Nigeria’s leadership role across Africa.
“As Nigeria looks towards the 2027 general elections, our partnership remains as important as ever. The credibility of the next elections will be vital – for public confidence in democratic institutions, for Nigeria’s continued progress, and for its leadership role across Africa,” the statement said.
The United Kingdom also reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Nigeria’s democratic development through collaboration with government institutions, civil society groups and election stakeholders.
The statement concluded by once again congratulating Governor Oyebanji on his victory and expressing optimism about strengthening ties between the UK and Ekiti State in the years ahead.
