The British High Commission in Nigeria has commended the people of Osun State for their peaceful participation in the August 15 governorship election and congratulated Governor Ademola Adeleke on his re-election.
In a statement issued on Monday, the High Commission said it deployed accredited observers to monitor the election after engaging with key stakeholders ahead of the poll.
It said its observations, which aligned with the findings of credible independent observer groups, identified several positive developments in the electoral process.
According to the statement, voting commenced as scheduled in many polling locations, security personnel maintained order, and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) effectively carried out their responsibilities.
The High Commission also praised voters for the patience, resilience and active participation they displayed throughout election day.
However, it noted reports of isolated incidents that created tension before and during the election, as well as the persistent challenge of vote-buying across political parties.
It also expressed concerns over the accessibility of polling units for persons with disabilities and elderly voters, as well as overcrowding reportedly caused by the speed and limited availability of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices during accreditation.
The High Commission urged relevant Nigerian institutions to review the challenges identified during the election and apply the lessons learned to future electoral processes.
It also encouraged authorities to consider recommendations from credible organisations, including the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, as part of efforts to strengthen public confidence, transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s democracy.
The statement said: “Based on their observations, and consistent with the findings of credible independent observer groups with wider deployments across the state, we welcome several encouraging signs of a positive democratic process.
“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.
“Most of all, we were encouraged by the patience, resilience and participation demonstrated by voters throughout the day.
“We note reports of isolated incidents that generated tension before and during the electoral process and the significant remaining challenge of voter including vote-buying, across party lines.”
