UK Congratulates Oyebanji, Raises Concerns Over Elections

The British High Commission in Abuja congratulated Biodun Oyebanji of the Progress Congress on his re-election as the Governor of Ekiti State, following the governorship election held on June 20, 2026, where he secured 319,224 votes against his closest rival, Wole Oluyede of the People's Democratic Party, who received 40,533 votes. The High Commission commended the peaceful and orderly conduct of the election, acknowledging the role of security agencies and stakeholders, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

However, the Commission raised concerns about vote buying and technical glitches affecting the bimodal voter accreditation system, which slowed down the voting process and risked undermining voter confidence. The statement emphasized the need for urgent action to address these issues and improve the electoral process ahead of the Osun governorship election in 2027 and future elections, reaffirming the United Kingdom's commitment to supporting Nigeria in strengthening its democratic institutions.