British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Gill Lever, has said the United Kingdom has no preferred candidate ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, insisting that the British government would remain neutral in the country’s political process.
Lever stated this during a courtesy visit to Kwara State Governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, at the Government House in Ilorin.
The envoy stressed that the UK would not interfere in Nigeria’s electoral process but would support efforts aimed at ensuring peaceful, credible and inclusive elections.
“The British government is entirely neutral. We do not favour any political party or candidate, and we will never tell Nigerians how to vote,” she said.
According to her, Britain’s interest is centred on strengthening democratic values and promoting an electoral process that allows broad participation while respecting institutions and the rule of law.
She noted that peaceful and credible elections are not only important for democracy but also critical for economic stability and investor confidence.
Lever also commended Governor AbdulRazaq for what she described as his administration’s commitment to gender inclusion and women’s participation in governance.
“Kwara under Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has become a model for gender equity. The state has shown strong support for women’s representation in politics and public leadership,” she said.
The British envoy added that the UK government was partnering with several Nigerian states to improve digital skills and support young people in the technology sector.
Responding, Governor AbdulRazaq said his administration had transformed several sectors in the state since assuming office in 2019.
He said the government inherited major challenges, including unpaid salaries, pension backlogs, poor school infrastructure and inadequate healthcare facilities.
According to him, the administration has since improved access to education and healthcare, cleared salary arrears and upgraded workers’ welfare.
“We met a system where schools lacked basic facilities and teachers were owed salaries. Today, we are investing heavily in education, healthcare and infrastructure,” the governor said.
AbdulRazaq also disclosed plans to raise the state’s minimum wage to N100,000 this year, adding that his government was expanding access to higher education and healthcare services across the state.
He said Kwara would have five teaching hospitals before the end of his administration in 2027 as part of efforts to address manpower shortages in the health sector.
