Aug 17, 2026

UK Commends Osun Election, Congratulates Adeleke, Urges Lessons for 2027 Polls

By Afolabi Olaiya Idowu in politics

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**Abuja/Osogbo – August 17, 2026—**The British High Commission has congratulated Governor Ademola Adeleke on his re-election while urging Nigerian institutions to draw clear lessons from the August 15 Osun State governorship election ahead of the 2027 general polls.

In a statement released on Monday, the High Commission said it engaged a range of stakeholders before election day and deployed its own team of accredited observers.

Its findings aligned with those of credible independent observer groups that monitored the poll more widely across the state.

Encouraging Signs of Progress

The Commission highlighted several positive elements of the process. Polling units opened on schedule in many locations. Security personnel largely maintained order.

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials implemented electoral procedures effectively. Above all, the High Commission praised the patience, resilience and active participation of Osun voters throughout the day.

Adeleke, contesting on the Accord Party platform, secured 511,067 votes to defeat All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Bola Oyebamiji, who polled 444,815 votes—a margin of 66,252.

The incumbent won 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas. African Democratic Congress candidate Najeem Salaam finished a distant third.

Persistent Challenges Flagged

Despite the overall peaceful conduct, the British High Commission noted significant remaining problems.

It pointed to isolated incidents that generated tension before and during the election, as well as widespread voter interference, including vote-buying across party lines.

Observers also recorded continued difficulties for persons with disabilities and elderly voters in accessing polling facilities, plus overcrowding linked to the limited number and speed of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices.

“We note reports of isolated incidents that generated tension before and during the electoral process and the significant remaining challenge of voter interference, including vote-buying, across party lines,” the statement said. It further highlighted access and BVAS-related overcrowding issues.

Call for Lessons Ahead of 2027

The High Commission urged relevant institutions to carefully review the identified shortcomings and apply the lessons to strengthen public confidence, transparency, and accountability.

It specifically referenced recommendations from civil society groups, including the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room.

Looking ahead, the Commission observed that off-cycle elections such as Osun’s benefit from additional personnel and resources that may prove harder to replicate at the nationwide scale required in 2027.

It expressed hope that the Osun experience would drive further improvements in the integrity, inclusiveness, and credibility of future electoral processes.

The United Kingdom reaffirmed its commitment to partnering with Nigeria’s electoral bodies, civil society, and other stakeholders in support of peaceful, transparent, inclusive, and credible elections.

As Nigeria prepares for the high-stakes 2027 general elections, the Osun poll has once again underscored both the progress made in electoral administration and the stubborn challenges — particularly vote-buying and technology deployment — that still demand urgent attention.