Ethiopian Electoral Officials Visit Nigeria to understudy INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Monday welcomed a joint delegation from Ethiopia’s National Election Board (NEBE) and the Coalition of Ethiopian Civil Society Organisations for Elections (CECOE) at its headquarters in Abuja.

The week-long study visit, supported by the German Agency for International Development (GIZ), is part of an ongoing initiative to promote the exchange of electoral best practices and strengthen democratic institutions across Africa.

Describing the visit as an “extraordinary engagement,” INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, noted that it marked the first time the Commission would host a combined delegation of both an electoral management body and a civil society coalition from another country.

“This visit is unique because, in the past, we interacted mainly with colleagues from electoral commissions. Today, we are hosting both NEBE, led by Deputy Chairman Mr. Tesfaye Niwai, and CECOE, representing over 180 civil society organisations,” Yakubu stated.

He emphasized the shared democratic values and governance similarities between Nigeria and Ethiopia, highlighting both nations’ multi-ethnic and multi-religious compositions, federal governance structures, and large populations—over 135 million in Ethiopia and 220 million in Nigeria—accounting for roughly a quarter of Africa’s total population.

Prof. Yakubu also noted the constitutional responsibilities shared by INEC and NEBE, including conducting national and regional elections, regulating political parties, monitoring campaign finance, delimiting constituencies, accrediting election observers, and promoting voter education.

As part of the study tour, the Ethiopian delegation will attend nine technical sessions designed to provide insight into Nigeria’s electoral system. These sessions will cover areas such as:

• Strategic election planning

• Electoral monitoring and support systems

• Technology in voter registration

• Inclusion of displaced persons and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs)

• Candidate nomination processes

• Observer accreditation

• Media relations

• Voter education

To broaden stakeholder engagement, Nigerian civil society organisations, media representatives, and the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) have been invited to participate in select sessions to foster cross-learning and collaboration.

Yakubu also highlighted that the visit coincides with the ongoing voter registration exercise in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), ahead of the Area Council elections scheduled for February 2026. This will give the Ethiopian delegation the opportunity to observe Nigeria’s voter registration process firsthand.

“I encourage you to interact freely with our officials and stakeholders. This is also an opportunity for us to learn from your own experiences,” he added.

The INEC Chairman thanked GIZ for facilitating the exchange and for its continued support in advancing electoral development across the continent.

The visit reflects INEC’s growing leadership role in electoral management in Africa, underscoring its commitment to regional collaboration, institutional partnerships, and democratic resilience through knowledge sharing.