The United Kingdom has reiterated its commitment to supporting Nigeria’s democratic process, expressing keen interest in the country’s preparations for the 2027 general elections.
British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr. Richard Montgomery, made the pledge on Thursday during a courtesy visit to the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja.
Accompanied by Governance Adviser, Dr. Matthew Ayibakuro, and Political Counsellor, Greta Morris, Montgomery said the UK remains committed to assisting Nigeria’s democratic institutions and is closely following developments in the country’s electoral system.
He explained that the visit was aimed at gaining deeper insight into INEC’s responsibilities and its level of preparedness for the forthcoming Osun State governorship election as well as the 2027 general elections.
Montgomery noted that Nigeria remains a strategic partner for the UK, stressing that Britain’s interest in the country’s democratic process reflects both political goodwill and practical cooperation.
He said discussions surrounding the 2027 elections also featured prominently during the recent National Assembly Open Week, where constitutional reforms and governance issues dominated conversations.
According to the envoy, the partnership between Nigeria and the UK extends beyond elections, covering critical sectors such as security, defence, migration, justice and governance.
Describing the UK as a committed partner in Nigeria’s democratic journey, Montgomery expressed optimism that his successor, who will assume office after the end of his diplomatic posting in about six weeks, would continue strengthening ties with INEC ahead of the next general elections.
Responding, INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, described the United Kingdom as one of Nigeria’s most dependable democratic partners, noting that the collaboration has grown beyond election observation to broader institutional support.
He revealed that preparations for the 2027 elections began immediately after the conclusion of the 2023 general elections through comprehensive post-election reviews involving political parties, civil society organisations, security agencies, election observers and development partners.
Amupitan identified misinformation, disinformation and the misuse of artificial intelligence as emerging threats capable of undermining electoral integrity.
To address these concerns, he said INEC is strengthening its cybersecurity framework and considering additional independent audits and penetration testing of its digital systems ahead of the polls.
The INEC chairman added that the commission has continued implementing reforms informed by the post-election assessments while aligning its operations with the Electoral Act 2026.
He disclosed that voter registration has resumed through online self-service platforms, while improvements are also being made to key electoral technologies, including the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).
According to him, election security, voter inclusion, technology deployment, cybersecurity and civic engagement remain central to the commission’s preparations.
He also said INEC is working closely with security agencies through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) to ensure the safety of electoral officials, facilities and voters during elections.
Amupitan stressed that delivering credible elections requires cooperation among electoral bodies, political parties, security agencies, civil society organisations, development partners and the electorate.
He reaffirmed that the commission’s goal is to conduct transparent, inclusive and credible elections that accurately reflect the will of Nigerians.
The INEC chairman thanked the UK for its continued support and identified election technology, cybersecurity, voter education, conflict prevention, institutional capacity building, and the inclusion of women and persons with disabilities as priority areas for future collaboration.
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