British High Commission Lauds Conduct of Ekiti Poll, Raises Concerns Over Vote Trading, BVAS Delays
The British High Commission has commended what it described as the peaceful and orderly conduct of the June 20, 2026, governorship election in Ekiti State by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
INEC declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and incumbent governor, Biodun Oyebanji, the winner of the election after securing 319,224 votes. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) came second with 40,543 votes, while the African Democratic Congress (ADC) polled 12,872 votes.
Reacting to the election in a statement on Monday, the British High Commission in Abuja congratulated voters in Ekiti State for participating in the governorship election and for their commitment to exercising their democratic rights.
The Commission also congratulated Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the APC on his re-election.
“We welcome the peaceful and orderly delivery of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, and other stakeholders. Noting that this was the first major election under the Electoral Act 2026 and associated guidelines, our team of British High Commission observers were grateful to meet key stakeholders, including police and INEC representatives before the election to understand how the Act was being implemented,” the statement said.
The Commission disclosed that on election day, its observers witnessed positive collaboration between INEC officials and security agencies, which played an important role in ensuring that voting was largely peaceful.
While noting the prioritisation of vulnerable voters at several polling units, it stressed that the physical location and layout of most polling units visited were inaccessible to voters with disabilities.
The Commission encouraged continued collaboration among stakeholders to build on areas of good practice and ensure that such measures are implemented at all polling units ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“Our observers also noted delays to the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) at some polling units, which slowed down voting,” it said, emphasising that technical issues could undermine voter confidence in electoral systems and discourage voter turnout.
The Commission also expressed concern over vote trading and interference by party agents at some of the polling units visited. It explained that vote trading erodes public confidence and undermines the democratic process, and called on all stakeholders to take urgent steps to address the corrosive practice.
The observers urged all stakeholders, including INEC, security agencies, and political actors, to take on board the lessons from the Ekiti election as preparations begin for the next off-cycle governorship election in Osun State.
“As Nigeria looks towards the 2027 general elections, our partnership remains as important as ever. 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 Commission expressed the United Kingdom’s readiness to continue working with the Federal Government and civil society organisations to promote credible electoral processes, strengthen democratic institutions, and support efforts aimed at building a more inclusive and accountable democratic system.
It further congratulated Governor Oyebanji on his re-election and expressed its readiness to strengthen the partnership between the United Kingdom and Ekiti State.
