The British High Commission has raised fresh concerns over Nigeria’s electoral process after the August 15, 2026 Osun State governorship poll, citing widespread vote-buying, voter interference, and problems with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System.
In a statement released on Monday, the UK mission said its accredited observers were on the ground across the state and that their findings matched those of major independent observer groups.
The commission praised several aspects of the election.
Polling units opened on schedule in many areas, security personnel kept order, and INEC officials largely followed procedure. It also congratulated Governor Ademola Adeleke on his re-election and noted the peaceful conduct of voters.
But it flagged serious challenges.
Vote-buying and interference: The UK said vote-buying occurred across party lines and remains “a significant challenge requiring urgent attention.” There were also isolated incidents before and during voting that created tension.
Access and logistics: People with disabilities and elderly voters struggled to access polling facilities in some locations. At other polling units, overcrowding happened because of the limited number of BVAS devices and the speed at which accreditation had to be done.
The mission urged Nigerian electoral institutions to review the issues and act on recommendations from civil society groups, including the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, to boost transparency and accountability.
It warned that lessons from Osun will matter for the 2027 general elections. Off-cycle polls like Osun benefit from extra personnel and resources that may not be available in a nationwide vote.
“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 commission said.
The UK reaffirmed its commitment to work with INEC, civil society, and other stakeholders to support peaceful, transparent, and credible elections in Nigeria.
