UK Congratulates Osun Governor, Flags Election Concerns

The United Kingdom congratulated Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke on his re-election, while also voicing concerns about the electoral process. The British High Commission pointed to issues such as alleged vote-buying, voter interference, and challenges faced by persons with disabilities and the elderly, as well as overcrowding due to slow deployment of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices during the August 15 governorship election.

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The British High Commission, in a statement, commended the people of Osun State for their peaceful and active participation in the election. But it urged relevant institutions to learn from the shortcomings observed during the poll ahead of the 2027 general election.

Despite these concerns, the commission commended the people of Osun State for their peaceful and active participation. It acknowledged positive aspects of the election, including the timely opening of polling units in many locations, the commitment of security personnel to maintaining order, and the effective implementation of procedures by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials. The resilience and participation of voters were particularly praised.

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However, it said the generally peaceful conduct of the election did not eliminate concerns over practices capable of undermining electoral credibility.

However, the commission stressed that the generally peaceful conduct did not erase concerns over practices that could undermine electoral credibility. It cited isolated incidents that caused tension before and during the election, and the persistent problem of voter interference across party lines. The British High Commission urged relevant institutions to learn from these shortcomings to enhance the credibility of future elections, particularly the 2027 general election.

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