UK says it has no preferred candidate in Nigeria's 2027 elections

Britain’s Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Gill Lever, stated that the United Kingdom has no preferred candidate for Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.

Lever clarified this on Tuesday while visiting Kwara State Governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, at the Government House in Ilorin.

The envoy reiterated that the British government will not intervene in the conduct of the elections and emphasized that the United Kingdom is interested in elections that are free, peaceful and credible.

According to Lever, the British government will support a free, peaceful and credible election in Nigeria next year.

“Downing Street has no favourite political party and will not be seen interfering in local political matters.”

“We all want to see elections that are peaceful, that are inclusive, that are credible, with space for participation, with respect for institutions.”

“The British government, as you’ll understand, is 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.”

“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,” the envoy said.