Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Okezie Kalu has called on the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to sustain its technical support for democratic governance and electoral integrity in Nigeria.
Kalu made the appeal during a meeting with senior FCDO officials led by Director General, Network, Christina Scott, in London on the sidelines of his engagement at Chatham House.
He said Nigeria and the United Kingdom share longstanding historical ties, strong people-to-people relations, commercial interests and a common commitment to constitutional democracy, accountable institutions and the rule of law.
The Deputy Speaker expressed appreciation to the UK Government and the FCDO for their continued support in strengthening democratic governance, electoral integrity, legislative development, civic participation, conflict prevention and peacebuilding in Nigeria.
“We appreciate your continued support for democratic governance, electoral integrity, legislative strengthening, civic participation, conflict prevention and peacebuilding in Nigeria through your institutional partners like the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC),” Kalu said.
He noted that strong legislatures are essential to strong democracies, adding that UK support for parliamentary capacity building, evidence-based policymaking, transparency, electoral reforms and citizen participation has helped strengthen democratic institutions in Nigeria.
As Chairman of the House Committee on Constitution Review, Kalu said; “sustained technical assistance, comparative learning and inclusive public consultations remain vital to constitutional reforms addressing issues such as inclusion, federalism, devolution of powers, local governance, security architecture and the representation of women, youths and persons with disabilities.”
On electoral reforms, Kalu highlighted lessons from the 2023 general elections, saying they informed recent legislative efforts to improve electoral processes.
He noted that the Electoral Act, 2026, provides statutory recognition for the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and electronic transmission of election results, while also clarifying jurisdiction and timelines for pre-election litigation.
Looking ahead to the 2027 General elections, the Deputy Speaker said the National Assembly is committed to ensuring that the legal and institutional framework is concluded early to allow for effective voter education, procurement, training and public confidence.
“Our objective is clear: elections that are peaceful, transparent, inclusive, technology-enabled and reflective of the genuine will of the Nigerian people,” he said.
Kalu also stressed that Nigeria’s democratic stability extends beyond its borders, describing the country as a pillar of stability within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and an anchor for democratic resilience across Africa.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to constitutionalism, peaceful political competition and the rule of law, expressing optimism for a stronger and more strategic partnership between the FCDO and the National Assembly in advancing democratic governance.
