The British Deputy High Commissioner in Nigeria, Gill Lever, has said the British government has no preferred candidate or political party in Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
CityNews reports that Lever stated this on Tuesday during a courtesy visit to the Kwara State Governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, at the Government House, Ilorin.
She said the United Kingdom would not interfere in Nigeria’s political process, stressing that its interest was in free, peaceful, inclusive and credible elections.
Lever said, “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.”
She added that credible elections were not only important for democracy but also for economic stability.
Envoy Hails Kwara On Women Inclusion
Lever, who also visited the Kwara State First Lady, Olufolake AbdulRazaq, commended the governor for promoting women’s participation in governance.
She said, “Kwara, under Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has become a model for gender equity.
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.”
The envoy also said the British government was working with several states to improve digital skills and support young talents in the technology sector.
AbdulRazaq Lists Achievements
Responding, AbdulRazaq said his administration had recorded progress in health, education, agriculture and road infrastructure since assuming office in 2019.
He said, “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.”
The governor said his administration had cleared salary backlogs, paid counterpart funds to the Universal Basic Education Commission and improved access to education and healthcare.
He added, “We have cleared backlog of salaries we met. In fact, we are planning to raise minimum wage again this year to ₦100,000.”
AbdulRazaq said his government had expanded Kwara State University with two campuses in Kwara North and South, adding that the state would have five teaching hospitals by 2027.
On agriculture, he said the state had established a shea processing factory in Kaiama, which he described as the second largest in Nigeria once operational.
