A newly elected councillor in the United Kingdom has been suspended after a resurfaced social media post in which he suggested that Nigerians should be "melted down" to repair road potholes. The comment, made in March 2024, has sparked widespread outrage both in Britain and Nigeria, leading to calls for the politician's resignation.
Glenn Gibbins, who represents the Reform UK party for the Hylton Castle ward in Sunderland, won his seat during the May 2026 local elections despite the controversial post being exposed by the anti-extremism group Hope Not Hate. The post reportedly read: "Can't believe the amount of Nigerians in town... should melt them all down and fill in the potholes!!"
Pattern of Hateful Comments
According to an investigative report by Hope Not Hate, the comment about Nigerians was not an isolated incident. Gibbins' digital footprint reveals a history of racism and misogyny. He targeted Muslim immigrants, warning of an "army of Muslims" that would eventually "turn on" the British public. In other posts, he attacked women, suggesting they should "stick to cooking, sewing and homemaking," and labeled female TV presenters with derogatory terms.
Xenophobic Rhetoric
Gibbins also promoted xenophobic views, repeatedly arguing that British "tolerance" was a weakness that had allowed the country to be "overrun." His online activity included a 2017 post claiming "OUR TOLERANCE IS THE MUSLIMS GREATEST WEAPON."
Party Suspension and Leadership Response
Following mounting criticism, Reform UK confirmed that Gibbins had been suspended pending an internal investigation. Darren Grimes, the party's deputy leader in Durham County Council, admitted there had been "a failure of the vetting process." However, the party's national leadership, including leader Richard Tice, has been accused of dismissing the outrage as a "media smear campaign."
During an appearance on the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg on May 10, 2026, Tice refused to directly condemn Gibbins' specific words, instead attacking the media. "Voters have heard all of this smearing and this sneering against all of us, and they have voted for more Reform," Tice stated, notably avoiding any apology to the Nigerian community.
Nigerian Outrage
The comment generated widespread anger among Nigerians both at home and in the UK, where Nigerians remain one of the largest African immigrant communities. Social media users condemned the statement as openly racist, while others called for stronger consequences for politicians accused of promoting hatred against immigrants.
Georgie Laming, Director of Campaigns at Hope Not Hate, said: "To suggest melting human beings down to fill potholes is a level of depravity that should disqualify anyone from public service." Despite his suspension from the party, Gibbins remains an independent councillor for Hylton Castle, as UK law lacks a recall mechanism for local councillors over social media posts made before an election.
Who is Glenn Gibbins?
Before the controversy, Glenn Gibbins was largely unknown outside local politics in Sunderland. However, the resurfaced post has now pushed the councillor into national headlines and reignited conversations around racism, immigration, and political accountability in Britain. Some reports indicate that offensive posts linked to the councillor were later deleted after attracting public attention.
