Reform UK Candidate Who Said Nigerians Should Be Melted Down to Fill Pot Holes Wins Council Seat

A Reform UK candidate who once suggested that Nigerians should be melted down to fill potholes has won a council seat in England, triggering outrage and an internal party investigation.

Glenn Gibbins secured a victory in the local elections held on May 7, 2026, representing the right wing party in a constituency in the East of England. His win came despite a history of inflammatory social media posts that have resurfaced and spread widely across platforms like X, formerly known as Twitter.

One post from Gibbins, which has drawn the sharpest condemnation, read: “If we melted all the Nigerians down we would have enough oil to fill the pot holes for the next decade.” The comment, made several years ago, has been labelled racist and dehumanizing by critics. It reappeared online just as Gibbins celebrated his electoral success, turning what should have been a routine local victory into a major political embarrassment for Reform UK.

The party, which has positioned itself as a right wing populist alternative to the Conservatives, initially moved to distance itself from the remarks. A Reform UK spokesperson confirmed that an internal investigation had been launched. The party also acknowledged that proper vetting procedures may have failed, as Gibbins was allowed to stand for office without his previous online statements being flagged.

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However, the response from senior leadership has drawn further criticism. Reform UK Deputy Leader Richard Tice was asked repeatedly to condemn the comments directly. He refused to do so, instead arguing that the remarks were old and that the focus should remain on local issues like fixing roads and cutting taxes. This stance prompted Labour MPs to accuse Reform UK of harbouring racist attitudes. The Education Secretary also weighed in, describing the comments as perilous and deeply offensive.

Gibbins himself has not issued a formal apology. In a brief statement, he claimed the post was taken out of context and was intended as dark humour. He insisted he bore no ill will toward Nigerians or any other nationality. His explanation did little to calm the growing backlash. Nigerian community leaders in the United Kingdom have called for his resignation, arguing that a person who holds such views about an entire nationality has no place in public office.

The controversy arrives at a sensitive time for Reform UK. The party has been trying to broaden its appeal beyond its core base, hoping to challenge the Conservatives more seriously in a future general election. Scandals involving candidate conduct threaten to undermine that effort. For now, Glenn Gibbins remains a sitting councillor. But the pressure on Reform UK to take stronger action, including possibly removing the whip or demanding his resignation, is intensifying by the day. The party has not yet announced a timeline for its investigation.

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