UK government congratulates INEC and Gov. Oyebanji on peaceful Ekiti election

The British Government has congratulated the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, voters, and Ekiti State Governor Abiodun Oyebanji following the conduct of the 2026 governorship election in the state.

In a statement issued on Monday by the British High Commission in Abuja, the UK praised Ekiti voters for participating in the June 20 election and exercising their democratic rights. It also congratulated Governor Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on his re‑election.

The High Commission described the election as peaceful and orderly, commending INEC, security agencies, and other stakeholders for their roles in the successful conduct of the poll.

According to the statement, British High Commission observers engaged with key stakeholders, including INEC officials and the police, ahead of the election to assess the implementation of the Electoral Act 2026 and its accompanying guidelines.

The observers noted positive collaboration between electoral officials and security personnel during the election, saying the partnership contributed significantly to maintaining peace at polling units.

The UK mission also commended efforts made to prioritise vulnerable voters at several polling units. However, it expressed concern that many polling units visited were not adequately accessible to persons with disabilities due to their physical location and setup.

The statement urged relevant stakeholders to improve accessibility at polling units ahead of future elections, particularly the 2027 general elections.

“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.”

“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,” part of the statement read.

The UK called on all stakeholders to take urgent steps to curb vote buying and strengthen the credibility of future elections.

With the Osun State governorship election approaching, the High Commission urged INEC, security agencies, political parties, and other stakeholders to apply lessons learned from the Ekiti election.

The statement added that the credibility of the 2027 general elections would be crucial to strengthening public confidence in democratic institutions, advancing Nigeria’s development, and sustaining its leadership role in Africa.

It reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to supporting Nigeria in promoting credible elections, strengthening democratic institutions, and advancing a more inclusive and accountable electoral system.