Posted by Chinenye on Thu 05th Nov, 2026 - tori.ng
The British government has urged Nigeria to make the 2027 elections peaceful, fair and free from cheating.
(Pete Vowles. Photo by Vanguard News)
British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Pete Vowles, has asked Nigeria play safe on the 2027 elections and show the world what a strong democracy looks like.
Vowles, who has been in Nigeria for eight weeks, made the remarks during a courtesy visit to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday.
The visit was mainly meant to help him learn how INEC works and how it is preparing for the polls.
He said Nigeria's democracy matters to its 240 million citizens, to the West African region and to the wider world.
As a foreigner living in Nigeria, he said he sees how important the country's democracy is globally.
He described the coming elections as a real chance for Nigeria to show how a strong democracy can work in a large and diverse nation.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, assured the international community that the commission will hold credible and inclusive elections next year.
He said restoring public trust, improving efficiency and protecting the integrity of every ballot are the main goals of his leadership.
Amupitan thanked the United Kingdom for its long-standing support through the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, FCDO, and other partners.
He asked for stronger cooperation ahead of 2027 in several areas.
These include election cybersecurity, training for INEC staff and joint efforts to fight AI-driven manipulation, disinformation and foreign interference.
To make sure every registered voter can cast a ballot, INEC has started a large drive to collect permanent voter cards, PVCs.
The drive covers all 774 local government areas, down to the ward level.
Amupitan also said INEC has taken steps to protect candidate nominations under Section 29 of the Electoral Act 2026, using its Candidates Nomination Portal.