By Rosemary Nwanpka
The United Kingdom has declared that it has no preferred political party in Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general elections and will not interfere in the country’s democratic process.
The Deputy British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Gill Lever, stated this on Tuesday during a courtesy visit to the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, at the Government House in Ilorin.
Lever, who is on a three-day official visit to Kwara State, said the British government’s interest is centred on supporting peaceful, inclusive and credible elections in Nigeria.
She stressed that the UK government remains neutral in Nigeria’s domestic politics and would never dictate to Nigerians how to vote.
According to her, peaceful and credible elections are not only essential democratic values but also critical to economic growth and stability.
The envoy also commended Governor AbdulRazaq for promoting women’s inclusion in governance, noting that more than half of his cabinet appointments are women.
She described Kwara as a model for gender equity and praised the governor’s support for the special seats bill aimed at increasing women’s political representation.
Lever further highlighted ongoing UK-backed programmes focused on digital skills development and youth empowerment across Nigeria.
She said the British government was supporting initiatives such as the Ilorin Innovation Hub to equip young people with technology skills and connect innovators to global opportunities.
She also referenced the establishment of a community digital hub in Ifelodun Local Government Area, which is expected to benefit thousands of residents through improved access to technology and digital training.
Responding, Governor AbdulRazaq said his administration had made notable progress across major sectors since assuming office in 2019.
He listed improvements in education, healthcare, agriculture, road infrastructure and workers’ welfare, noting that his government had cleared salary arrears and restored regular payment of salaries.
The governor also said the state plans to increase the minimum wage to N100,000 later this year.
AbdulRazaq added that investments in education and healthcare have expanded access to services, while ongoing infrastructure projects are improving development across the state.
He noted that Kwara State is also strengthening agricultural production with federal support and developing a major Shea processing factory in Kaiama, which he said would rank among the largest in Nigeria upon completion.
The governor further assured that efforts were ongoing to improve security and safeguard rural communities across the state.
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