The United Kingdom has identified vote-buying, accreditation challenges and limited access to polling units for vulnerable voters as key issues that Nigeria must tackle before the 2027 general elections.
The British High Commission raised the concerns on Monday in its assessment of the August 15 Osun State governorship election, even as it praised voters for helping to maintain a largely peaceful atmosphere during the poll.
The commission also congratulated Governor Ademola Adeleke on his victory and said its accredited observers monitored the election after engaging with stakeholders in the build-up to the exercise.
While the mission said several aspects of the election reflected progress, it stressed that the challenges observed should provide important lessons for the country’s future elections.
Among the positive developments highlighted by the UK were the commencement of voting at many polling units as scheduled, the conduct of security personnel and the adherence of INEC officials to electoral procedures.
The mission particularly applauded Osun voters for what it described as their patience, resilience and willingness to participate in the democratic process.
However, it said the election was not without problems, pointing to isolated incidents that created tension before and during voting.
The commission also drew attention to the persistent problem of voter inducement, noting that allegations of vote-buying remained a concern involving political actors across party lines.
Another issue highlighted was the difficulty faced by some elderly voters and persons with disabilities in accessing polling facilities.
The UK mission further reported instances of overcrowding, attributing the situation in part to the pace of accreditation and the limited availability of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System devices at some locations.
It said the shortcomings deserved a detailed review by the institutions responsible for conducting and regulating elections.
The commission urged stakeholders to examine recommendations from credible election-monitoring organisations, including the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, as part of efforts to improve transparency, accountability and public confidence.
“We encourage the relevant institutions to review these issues carefully and to draw lessons – including from the recommendations of credible organisations like the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room – that strengthen public confidence, transparency and accountability,” the statement said.
Looking beyond Osun, the British mission warned that the circumstances surrounding an off-cycle governorship election could differ considerably from those of the 2027 general elections.
It noted that the Osun exercise benefited from additional personnel and resources, arrangements that may be more difficult to reproduce when electoral authorities are simultaneously managing nationwide presidential, governorship and legislative elections.
Despite the concerns, the UK said the Osun experience could serve as a useful reference point for strengthening Nigeria’s electoral framework ahead of future contests.
“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,” it said.
The British High Commission reiterated its commitment to working with Nigeria’s electoral bodies, civil society organisations and other partners to promote peaceful and credible elections.
It said continued efforts to improve the electoral process would be critical to strengthening the democratic institutions on which Nigeria’s political system depends.
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