The United Kingdom has restated its position ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, saying it will not interfere in the electoral process and does not have any preferred political party.
The Deputy British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Gill Lever, gave the assurance on Tuesday during a courtesy visit to the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Governor of Kwara State, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, at the Government House in Ilorin, Kwara State.
Lever said the UK government’s focus is strictly on supporting credible, inclusive, and peaceful elections in Nigeria. She stressed that Britain would remain neutral and would not be seen taking sides in the country’s political contests.
She stated clearly, “Downing Street has no favourite political party and will not be seen interfering in local political matters.”
According to her, the UK’s interest is not in influencing political outcomes but in strengthening democratic institutions and ensuring that citizens are able to freely participate in elections without fear or intimidation.
She added, “We all want to see elections that are peaceful, that are inclusive, that are credible, with space for participation, with respect for institutions.”
Lever further emphasized that the British government maintains a long-standing commitment to democratic values, both within the Commonwealth and globally, but will not dictate political choices to Nigerians.
She said, “The British government, as you’ll understand, Excellency, are entirely neutral. We do not favour one party or another, and we would never be in the business of telling Nigerian people how to vote.”
She, however, noted that credible elections are not only important for democracy but also for economic stability and investor confidence, adding that political stability plays a major role in development planning and foreign investment decisions.
She explained, “But peaceful and credible elections, of course, are not only a democratic objective. This is not only about the Commonwealth values and the values of democracy that we’ve long shared, they’re also an economic objective or imperative as well.”
During the visit, the envoy also commended Governor Abdulrazaq’s administration in Kwara State, particularly his policies on gender inclusion and women’s representation in governance.
She praised the state’s approach to appointments and political participation, noting that Kwara has set an example in promoting women into leadership positions.
She said, “First of all, you’re a strong advocate for women’s representation in governance and I think Kwara, under your leadership, has been a trailblazer for women’s rights and women’s participation in the political life of your state.”
She further highlighted that more than half of the cabinet positions in the state are occupied by women, describing it as a significant step toward inclusive governance and economic growth.
“We know that you’ve appointed over 50% of your cabinet roles to women. So, women’s representation in political life and lawmaking is essential to Nigeria’s economic development,” she said.
Lever also acknowledged the governor’s support for legislative reforms aimed at increasing women’s participation in politics, adding that his advocacy had earned him recognition as a “HeForShe” ambassador.
She said, “I think we all see that. So, I strongly commend you, Your Excellency. You are a model state for gender equity and your endorsement of the special seats bill for women has earned you ‘HeForShe’ ambassador.”
Beyond governance and elections, the envoy also spoke on ongoing UK-supported programmes in Nigeria, especially in the areas of digital skills development and youth empowerment.
She noted that the UK delegation was in Kwara State to assess progress at the Ilorin Innovation Hub, a project supported under UK development assistance aimed at improving technology skills among young Nigerians.
“We’re visiting the Ilorin Innovation Hub today to see the progress of that particular set of UK assistance, see how it’s helped to develop skills and develop aspirations in the tech sector. This is allowing innovators to access global networks and opportunities,” she said.
She added that the UK’s digital access programmes are designed to equip young people with employable skills and improve their chances of securing jobs in the growing technology sector.
“So, we’re very keen through our digital access programme to help improve digital skills, nurture talents, and further the aspirations of young men and women in tech and help them into employment opportunities,” she said.
Lever also referenced a recently launched community digital centre in Olayinka, Ifelodun Local Government Area, noting that it is expected to benefit tens of thousands of residents through access to technology and training.
“You may also know that we launched, a couple of months ago, a community hub in Olayinka (Ifelodun local government), which we hope will benefit over 50,000 people in the local government with tech skills and digital access.”
In his response, Governor Abdulrazaq outlined key achievements of his administration since 2019, saying his government has recorded progress across education, healthcare, infrastructure, and agriculture.
He said the state met a difficult situation at inception, including unpaid salaries, pension arrears, and failing public services.
“We have made significant progress in different sectors of the economy: from health, education, agriculture and road infrastructure. When we came in 2019, things just weren’t working in the state,” he said.
He listed inherited challenges such as salary arrears, pension backlogs, and issues with education infrastructure, noting that reforms have since improved service delivery across sectors.
“From backlogs of pensions and gratuities to payment of half-salaries to blacklist of Kwara by Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC),” he said.
The governor also said education has been significantly strengthened, with improved facilities and better funding arrangements now in place.