The United Kingdom has praised the overall conduct of the 15 August 2026 Osun State governorship election, describing the poll as peaceful and congratulating Governor Ademola Adeleke on his re-election. However, the UK also identified vote-buying, voter accessibility and delays involving the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) as areas requiring attention ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
In a statement issued by the British High Commission on Monday night, the UK said observations from its accredited representatives and independent monitoring organisations showed several positive signs in the electoral process.
“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.
The UK, however, pointed to several concerns recorded before and during the election. These included isolated incidents that created tension, as well as continued cases of voter interference and vote-buying involving different political parties.
The High Commission also highlighted challenges affecting some voters, particularly persons with disabilities and elderly citizens.
“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.
The UK urged Nigerian authorities and other stakeholders to carefully assess the challenges observed during the election and use recommendations from civil society organisations to improve future elections.
It said addressing such issues would be important in strengthening public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system while promoting transparency, accountability and inclusiveness.
“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.
The British High Commission also commended Osun voters for their conduct throughout the election, describing their participation as a positive indication of democratic engagement.
It also commended the people of Osun State for their “peaceful and active participation” in the 15 August 2026 governorship election.
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