The British High Commission has commended the conduct of the Osun State governorship election and congratulated Governor Ademola Adeleke on his re-election.

In a statement issued on Monday, the commission said it engaged with various stakeholders ahead of the election and deployed accredited observers across the state.

The commission said its observers witnessed several positive developments, including the opening of polling units as scheduled in many locations, the commitment of security personnel to maintaining order and the effective implementation of electoral procedures by INEC officials.

It also praised voters for their patience, resilience and participation throughout the electoral process.

However, the UK mission noted reports of isolated incidents before and during the election, including voter interference, vote-buying across political parties, limited access for persons with disabilities and the elderly, as well as overcrowding linked to the limited availability and deployment of BVAS devices.

The commission urged relevant Nigerian institutions to carefully review the issues and apply the lessons from the election to strengthen public confidence, transparency and accountability ahead of the 2027 general elections.

It noted that off-cycle elections such as Osun benefit from additional personnel and resources that may be more difficult to replicate during nationwide elections.

The British High Commission said the UK remains committed to working with Nigeria’s electoral institutions, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to support peaceful, transparent, inclusive and credible elections and strengthen the country’s democratic institutions.