UK flags vote trading, BVAS glitches, disability barriers in Ekiti poll

By Nkiruka Nnorom

The British High Commission in Nigeria has congratulated Abiodun Oyebanji on his re-election as Ekiti State Governor, but warned that vote trading, BVAS delays and poor access for voters with disabilities marred the June 20 governorship election.

In a statement, the High Commission praised the peaceful conduct of the poll and the collaboration between the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and security agencies, describing it as “a mostly orderly first test of the Electoral Act 2026.”

The High Commission, however, noted that UK observers said the positives were outweighed by practices that threatened public trust and called for urgent improvements in accessibility and electoral conduct ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.

According to the UK, the team reported seeing “instances of vote trading and interference by party agents” at polling units visited, calling it a corrosive practice that erodes confidence in the process.

They also flagged delays with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System at several units, saying that technical glitches risked discouraging turnout.

It stated that accessibility was another weak spot, saying that while vulnerable voters were prioritized in some locations, most polling units visited were inaccessible to people with disabilities.

The statement said: “While our team noted the prioritization of vulnerable voters at several polling units, which is commendable, the physical location and set-up of most polling units visited were inaccessible to voters with disabilities. We encourage continued collaboration among stakeholders to build on areas of good practice to ensure implementation at all polling units ahead of the general elections in 2027.

“Our observers also noted delays to the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) at some polling units, which slowed down voting. Technical issues risk undermining voter confidence in electoral systems and can discourage turnout.

“Our observation team were concerned to see instances of vote trading and interference by party agents at polling units visited. Vote trading erodes public confidence and undermines the democratic process.”

The High Commission urged INEC, security agencies and political actors to fix these gaps before the Osun off-cycle election and the 2027 general elections.

It added that credible elections were vital for Nigeria’s democratic standing in Africa and pledged to keep working with government and civil society to strengthen the process.

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