The United Kingdom has expressed interest in monitoring the November 11 off-cycle governorship elections in Imo, Bayelsa, and Kogi States.

British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, disclosed this on Tuesday evening during a visit to the headquarters of the ruling All Progressives Congress in Abuja.

“I, as British High Commissioner, have a role to understand the politics of this great country and to engage with the political parties to understand both the priorities, challenges and opportunities of the political process in Nigeria so that I can explain it to my ministers back in London. I also need to understand your perspectives on a number of issues.

“As I am doing here, we met other members of the political leadership of different political parties across the country. Obviously, there are topical concerns that we have touched on like the gubernatorial elections, the runoff by-elections in Imo, Bayelsa and in Kogi. That we wish to understand and are watching carefully to see the process and the way it is carried out,” he said.

Montgomery said the UK was also interested in understanding the numerous post-election cases at both the state and federal levels.

“We are watching carefully to see the process and the way it is carried out,” he said.

Montgomery also called for fair play and a level playing field for the candidates contesting.

He said the UK had met with members of the political leadership of different political parties across the country to understand their perspectives on a number of issues.

“We admire the way Nigeria is using the courts to settle disputes of elections at every level when they occur. And we appreciate that process,” he said.

APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, welcomed the British delegation and acknowledged the long history between both countries.

He said Nigeria was open to learning from the UK, which has older political institutions.

“If the political party is not well structured, not well established, democracy itself is defective,” Ganduje said.

“So we thank you for coming. We look forward to having stronger ties andto learn more from you.”