UK mission praises Osun voters, urges lessons from election

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The British High Commission has commended the people of Osun State for their peaceful participation in the August 15 governorship election, congratulating Governor Ademola Adeleke on his re-election.

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In a statement issued on Monday, the High Commission said it deployed accredited observers to monitor the election after engaging with various stakeholders ahead of the poll.

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It said its observations, which were consistent with findings by credible independent observer groups with wider deployments across the state, showed several encouraging signs of a positive democratic process.

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The commission said, “This includes the opening of polls as scheduled in many locations, the commitment of security personnel to maintaining order, and the effective implementation of electoral procedures by INEC officials.”

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It particularly commended voters for their “patience, resilience and participation” throughout the election.

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However, the British High Commission noted reports of isolated incidents that generated tension before and during the election, as well as the continued challenge of voter interference, including vote-buying across party lines.

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It also raised concerns over access to polling facilities for persons with disabilities and elderly voters, as well as overcrowding linked to the speed and limited provision of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System devices for accreditation.

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The commission urged relevant institutions to review the identified challenges and draw lessons from the election to improve future electoral processes.

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“We encourage the relevant institutions to review these issues carefully and to draw lessons – including from the recommendations of credible organisations like the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room – that strengthen public confidence, transparency and accountability,” it said.

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Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, the commission noted that off-cycle elections benefited from additional personnel and resources that could be more difficult to replicate during nationwide polls.

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It nevertheless expressed hope that the Osun election would contribute to further improvements in Nigeria’s electoral system.

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“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.

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The United Kingdom reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Nigeria’s electoral institutions, civil society and other partners in promoting peaceful, transparent, inclusive and credible elections to strengthen the democratic institutions that underpin them.

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