The United Kingdom (UK) has reaffirmed its commitment to Nigeria's democratic development, revealing interest in the country's electoral process ahead of 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.
Montgomery was accompanied by Governance Adviser Dr Matthew Ayibakuro and Political Counsellor Greta Morris.
He said the UK was closely monitoring developments in Nigeria's electoral space and remained committed to supporting the country's democratic institutions.
According to him, his team had sought the meeting to better understand the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) preparations for forthcoming polls, including the Osun State governorship election and the 2027 general elections.
"We have a very strong interest and investment in the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I hope you will take our interest in your democratic process as a sign of support, both moral and, in a small way, some practical support that we have been discussing with you in the run-up to 2027," Montgomery said.
He maintained that the 2027 elections had featured prominently at the recently concluded National Assembly Open Week, where stakeholders debated constitutional reforms and governance issues.
Nigeria, he said, occupied a strategic position in the UK's engagement with Africa under the bilateral partnership between the two countries, which covers security, defence, migration, justice and governance.
"We would like to regard ourselves as partners in your democratic journey," Montgomery added.
The High Commissioner, who is due to conclude his diplomatic posting in Nigeria within six weeks, said he was confident his successor would sustain the relationship with INEC and deepen cooperation ahead of the 2027 polls.
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Responding, INEC Chairman Prof Joash Amupitan described the UK as a steadfast and highly valued partner in Nigeria's democratic development.
"The United Kingdom has been a steadfast and highly valued partner in Nigeria's democratic journey," Amupitan said.
INEC chairman added that the relationship had evolved beyond election observation into a broader strategic partnership aimed at strengthening democratic institutions.
Amupitan disclosed that preparations for the 2027 elections began immediately after the 2023 polls, through extensive post-election reviews involving political parties, civil society groups, security agencies, election observers and development partners.
He identified misinformation, disinformation and the growing use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to manipulate public information as emerging threats to electoral credibility.
He revealed that the Commission was reviewing its cybersecurity architecture and considering independent audits and penetration testing of its systems ahead of the elections.
The INEC chairman said Nigeria's democratic credentials continued to draw global attention, noting that it remains the largest democracy on the African continent.
He said the commission had already begun implementing reforms from its reviews while adapting to provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.
Amupitan added that INEC had commenced voter registration, introduced online self-service registration platforms, and continued improving its electoral technology infrastructure, including the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).
He listed election security, voter inclusion, technology deployment, cybersecurity and civic engagement as key priorities ahead of 2027, stressing that credible elections required collaboration among electoral institutions, political parties, security agencies, civil society groups, development partners and citizens.
"Our objective remains to deliver elections that are credible, transparent, inclusive and reflective of the sovereign will of the Nigerian people," he said.
Amupitan hailed the UK's continued support, identifying election technology, cybersecurity, voter education, conflict prevention, inclusion of women and persons with disabilities, and institutional capacity building as areas for deeper cooperation between both countries ahead of the 2027 polls.
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