The British High Commission in Abuja has officially congratulated Governor Biodun Oyebanji on his re-election in the Ekiti State governorship race, while simultaneously highlighting significant concerns regarding the electoral process.
In a statement issued on Monday, the mission acknowledged the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, who secured 319,224 votes across the state’s 16 local government areas, defeating Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Wole Oluyede and African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate Dare Bejide.
“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 stated.
While commending the peaceful conduct of the poll and the collaboration between security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the UK mission raised several critical points for improvement:
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Accessibility: The mission noted, “The physical location and set-up of most polling units visited were inaccessible to voters with disabilities. We encourage continued collaboration among stakeholders to build on areas of good practice to ensure implementation at all polling units ahead of the general elections in 2027.”
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Technical Challenges: The statement highlighted that “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.”
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Vote Trading: Expressing strong concern, the commission remarked, “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.”
Reflecting on the broader impact of these issues, the mission emphasized that “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 British government reaffirmed its dedication to supporting Nigeria’s democratic institutions as the nation shifts its focus toward the upcoming Osun governorship election and the 2027 general elections.
