Post by Henry Emeka (@Emekus)

Your Excellencies 240 million Nigerians are writing to express our concerns regarding the United Kingdom’s public congratulatory message following the re‑election of Governor Biodun Oyebanji.

While every nation has the right to maintain diplomatic relations, many observers—including the USA 195 countries globally, 240 million Nigerians on the ground—have raised serious questions about the integrity of the electoral process. Reports of vote buying, operational issues with BVAS, and irregularities in manual counting have created a perception that the election did not meet the standards of transparency and credibility that democratic partners like the UK typically advocate for.

Against this backdrop, the UK’s congratulatory message has been interpreted by 240 million Nigerians as an endorsement of a process they believe was flawed. This risks undermining public confidence in democratic institutions and raises questions about the consistency of the UK’s stance on electoral integrity.

Additionally, recent political developments in the UK, including the resignation of the Prime Minister over ethical concerns, make it even more important for the UK to demonstrate a clear and principled commitment to democratic norms abroad.

Respectfully sirs our intention is not to dismiss diplomatic protocol but to urge greater sensitivity to the realities faced by 240 million Nigerians who expect credible elections and transparent governance.

Thank you for your attention.

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