The Nigeria–United States Parliamentary Friendship Group has faulted the notions held abroad that religious war is at the heart of isolated cases of killings across the country.

Led by Hon. Jesse Oke-Joe Onuakalusi, the group, during the visit to the Commonwealth Secretariat, Marlborough House, told the Assistant Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Professor Luis G. Franceschi, that virtually all the killings were perpetrated by criminals across the country.

Onuakalusi further identified the amendment of the Electoral Act to mandate electronic transmission of election results as a panacea to vote rigging in the country.

Onuakalusi stressed the need to replace the manual process of vote collation that often allows room for manipulation.

Onuakalusi, representing Oshodi-Isolo 1 federal constituency of Lagos State on the platform of the opposition Labour Party (LP), stressed that the antidote to electoral fraud and irregularities lies in amending the Electoral Act ahead of the 2027 poll.

The lawmaker spoke in response to Prof. Franceschi, who raised concerns about the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process having monitored several elections in Nigeria, including the most recent 2023 poll.

The Onuakalusi-led group also engaged members of the British Parliament, the House of Lords, focusing on strengthening the existing parliamentary relationship between Nigeria and the United Kingdom through programs, practices, and procedures aimed at enhancing socio-economic values, promoting good governance, and deepening legislative ties between the two countries.

During the visit to the British Parliament and the House of Lords, Rt. Hon. Professor David Alton, who spent an impressive 20 years in the House of Commons, warmly received the group. He expressed concern about religious killings and persecution in Nigeria.

In response, Onuakalusi acknowledged the tragedy of the killings in Nigeria but clarified that what is often portrayed as religious violence in Nigeria is, in fact, criminality.

He emphasized that Christians and Muslims in Nigeria largely live in peace and brotherhood.

Onuakalusi further stated that legislative collaboration between Britain and Nigeria offers a powerful platform for the exchange of best practices, policy innovation, and capacity building.

He said that through bilateral forums, parliamentary exchanges, and technical partnerships, lawmakers in both countries can work together to combat corruption, promote judicial independence, enhance electoral integrity, and uphold human rights.

Before departing the House of Lords, the group was shown Westminster Hall, where Sir Thomas More—Lord Chancellor of England, Speaker of the House of Commons, and author of Utopia—was tried and condemned to death on 1st July 1535.

At the Commonwealth Secretariat, Marlborough House, the Assistant Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Professor Luis G. Franceschi, who has visited Nigeria several times for election monitoring, expressed his willingness to support efforts aimed at strengthening legislative collaboration between Britain and Nigeria.

The inter-parliamentary group had earlier in the month embarked on visits to Washington D.C., New York City, Utah, and Atlanta, Georgia, where they met members of the US Congress and Senators.