Written question asked by Lord Callanan (Conservative) on Thursday, 12 March 2026, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 26 March 2026. It was answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Labour) on Thursday, 26 March 2026 on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Nigeria: Elections

Question: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that opposition parties in Nigeria are being subjected to sustained litigation, judicial injunctions and candidate recognition disputes ahead of the 2027 presidential elections; and what discussions they have had with the government of Nigeria about the protection of full opposition participation.

Answer: The State Visit provided an important opportunity to strengthen the UK-Nigeria Strategic Partnership across growth, security, migration, and foreign policy. As the largest democracy in Africa, Nigeria has an important role to play in upholding democratic norms, including ensuring a free, fair and credible Presidential election in 2027.The UK is supporting key legislative and institutional reform processes in the Nigerian National Assembly, with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Judiciary and other key institutions to strengthen Nigeria's democracy. On the issue of violence against Christian communities, I refer the Hon Member to the written ministerial statement published on 27 November 2025 (HCWS1105).

Secondary information