A United Kingdom delegation led by High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, and Deputy High Commissioner Abuja, Gill Lever, has engaged with key Nigerian political figures and electoral officials ahead of the 2027 general elections. The delegation held meetings with the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, as well as former presidential candidates Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi. Additionally, the UK officials visited the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu.
The discussions, which took place over recent weeks, focused on developments in Nigeria’s political and democratic processes. The British government reaffirmed its readiness to collaborate with all political parties to ensure free, fair, and credible elections in 2027. This was disclosed in a post on the UK in Nigeria X handle on Thursday, April 30, 2026.
“Over recent weeks, @RMontgomeryUK, @gillleverobe & team have spoken to political leaders & @inecnigeria about developments in Nigeria’s political and democratic processes. We look forward to working with all parties and the international community to support inclusive & credible elections,” the statement read.
Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar are currently contesting for the 2027 presidential ticket under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), alongside other aspirants. The opposition parties are uniting to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the upcoming election.
Reactions to the UK Engagement
Social media users have responded to the diplomatic engagements. User @thehelpteamgb commented: “A positive step in strengthening UK–INEC collaboration ahead of the electoral process. Sustained institutional engagement like this is key to reinforcing transparency, trust, and confidence in democratic systems.” Another user, @ChocolateKing_1, simply wrote: “Good one.”
UK Officials at ADC National Convention
Previously, the UK government justified the attendance of its officials at the ADC national convention as part of standard diplomatic practice. The British High Commission emphasized its commitment to supporting Nigeria’s democratic processes through engagement with political and civic stakeholders.
Peter Obi Hosts EU Ambassador
In a related development, Peter Obi hosted the European Union Ambassador at his Onitsha residence for a private engagement meeting. The discussions were described as enriching, although specific topics have not been publicly disclosed. The meeting has sparked online reactions as Nigerians engage in discourse over the diplomatic interactions.
