UK commends INEC over Ekiti poll, raises concerns about vote buying and BVAS glitches
The British High Commission in Nigeria has praised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies for what it described as the orderly and peaceful conduct of the Ekiti State governorship election.
In a statement issued on Monday, the commission, however, expressed concerns over incidents of vote buying and technical issues linked to the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).
INEC had declared Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the election after polling 319,224 votes. His closest rival, Wole Oluyede of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), secured 40,543 votes, while Dare Bejide of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) garnered 12,872 votes.
Despite the peaceful atmosphere recorded in many areas, the election was trailed by allegations of vote trading and voter suppression in some polling units.
Some voters also experienced delays during accreditation as BVAS reportedly failed to capture the details of certain elderly voters in some locations.
The British High Commission congratulated residents of Ekiti State for participating in the electoral process and exercising their democratic rights.
It also congratulated Oyebanji on his re-election victory.
According to the commission, the Ekiti governorship election marked the first major poll conducted under the Electoral Act 2026 and its accompanying guidelines.
The commission said its observers engaged with key stakeholders, including INEC officials and security agencies, before the election to assess preparations and implementation of the new electoral framework.
“On the day of the election, our observers witnessed positive collaboration between INEC officials and security agencies, which played an important role in ensuring voting was mostly peaceful,” the statement said.
The commission further noted that vulnerable voters were prioritised at several polling units but pointed out that many polling centres were not accessible to persons living with disabilities.
It also highlighted delays caused by BVAS malfunction in some polling units, warning that technical challenges could weaken public trust in the electoral process and discourage voter participation.
“Our observation team was 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,” the statement added.
The UK mission urged political stakeholders and electoral authorities to apply lessons from the Ekiti election ahead of the forthcoming governorship election in Osun State.
It added that the credibility of the 2027 general election would be critical to strengthening public confidence in democratic institutions and maintaining Nigeria’s leadership role on the African continent.
The commission reaffirmed its commitment to supporting efforts aimed at strengthening democratic institutions, promoting credible elections, and building a more inclusive and accountable political system in Nigeria.
