The United Kingdom has commended the peaceful conduct of the 15 August 2026 Osun State governorship election while raising concerns over vote-buying and delays associated with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).
The British High Commission, in a statement issued on Monday, congratulated Governor Ademola Adeleke on his re-election and praised Osun voters for their active and peaceful participation.
The UK said its accredited observers and independent monitoring groups recorded several positive developments, including the timely opening of polling units in many areas, the efforts of security personnel to maintain order and the effective implementation of electoral procedures by INEC officials.
However, the British government identified some concerns, including isolated incidents that created tension before and during the election.
It also highlighted voter interference, particularly vote-buying, describing it as a major challenge that cuts across political parties.
The High Commission further raised concerns about access to polling units for persons with disabilities and elderly voters, as well as overcrowding caused by delays and limited BVAS devices for accreditation.
It urged Nigerian authorities to carefully review the issues and consider recommendations from civil society organisations to improve transparency, accountability and public confidence in the electoral process.
The UK said the lessons from the Osun election would be valuable as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections, noting that off-cycle elections benefit from additional resources that may be more difficult to provide during nationwide elections.
It expressed hope that the experience would help strengthen the integrity, inclusiveness and credibility of future elections in Nigeria.
Adeleke was declared the winner of the Osun governorship election, securing a second term in office.
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