The British High Commission in Abuja has congratulated Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on his re-election in the Ekiti State governorship election, raising concerns over incidents of vote trading and technical challenges observed during the poll.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Commission commended the people of Ekiti State for their participation in the June 20 election and praised their commitment to exercising their democratic rights through peaceful voting.
“The British High Commission in Abuja congratulates the voters in Ekiti State for their participation in the Governorship election held on 20 June 2026 and for their commitment to exercise their democratic rights,” the statement said.
The Commission also extended congratulations to Governor Oyebanji on securing a second term in office, adding “We also offer our congratulations to Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on his re-election”.
According to the statement, the election was conducted in a peaceful and orderly manner, with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and other stakeholders playing key roles in ensuring a smooth process.
The UK mission noted that its observers deployed across the state witnessed strong collaboration between electoral officials and security personnel, which contributed significantly to maintaining order and preventing disruptions at polling units.
Despite the positive assessment, the Commission identified areas requiring improvement before future elections. It acknowledged efforts made to prioritise vulnerable voters at some polling centres but expressed concern that many polling units remained inaccessible to persons living with disabilities.
The statement further highlighted delays linked to the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) in some polling units and warned that such technical challenges could undermine public confidence in the electoral process. It urged electoral stakeholders to address accessibility concerns and strengthen election management systems ahead of the 2027 general elections.
