The United Kingdom (UK) has commended the conduct of the Osun governorship election, describing it as “peaceful” and congratulating Governor Ademola Adeleke on his re-election.
However, the UK expressed concern over instances of vote-buying and delays with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).
In a statement late yesterday, the British High Commission noted encouraging signs of a positive democratic process, citing its own accredited observers and independent monitoring groups.
“This includes the opening of polls as scheduled in many locations, the commitment of security personnel to maintaining order, and the effective implementation of electoral procedures by INEC officials. Most of all, we were encouraged by the patience, resilience and participation demonstrated by voters throughout the day,” the statement read.
However, the Commission highlighted key areas of concern, noting “reports of isolated incidents that generated tension before and during the electoral process and the significant remaining challenge of voter interference, including vote-buying, across party lines.
“We also note continued issues with access for people with disabilities and for elderly people, as well as overcrowding due to the speed and limited provision of BVAS devices for accreditation,” the report added.
Looking ahead, the High Commission urged relevant authorities to review these issues carefully and draw lessons from civil society recommendations to strengthen public confidence, transparency, and accountability.
“As Nigeria looks ahead to the 2027 general elections, we note that off-cycle elections benefit from the availability of additional personnel and resources that may be more difficult to replicate at a nationwide scale.
“We nevertheless hope that the experience of the Osun election will help inform further improvements that strengthen the integrity, inclusiveness and credibility of future electoral processes,” the statement read.
It also commended the people of Osun State for their “peaceful and active participation” in the August 15, 2026 governorship election.
