INEC Hosts Ethiopian Election Board on Week-Long Study Tour

INEC Hosts Ethiopian Election Board on Week-Long Study Tour

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has welcomed a delegation from the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) on a week-long study tour aimed at deepening electoral cooperation and promoting democratic best practices across Africa.

The delegation, which also includes members of the Coalition of Ethiopian Civil Society Organizations for Election (CECOE), was received on Monday at INEC’s Headquarters in Abuja.

The visit, supported by the German Agency for International Development (GIZ), is part of an ongoing experience-sharing initiative between Nigeria and Ethiopia.

Welcoming the visitors, INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, described the engagement as a unique opportunity for mutual learning and collaboration.

He noticed that it was the first time the Commission would host a joint team from Ethiopia’s election management body and a civil society coalition representing over 180 organizations.

“Nigeria and Ethiopia share many similarities as large, diverse, and federal nations. Our election management bodies face comparable responsibilities from conducting national and regional elections to registering political parties, monitoring campaign finances, and promoting voter education,” Yakubu said.

He explained that the Ethiopian delegation would participate in nine technical sessions designed to give a detailed understanding of Nigeria’s electoral operations. The sessions will focus on areas such as strategic planning, technology in voter registration, inclusivity in elections, stakeholder engagement, candidate management, and logistics.

Prof. Yakubu also disclosed that the visitors would observe the ongoing voter registration exercise in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) ahead of the Area Council Elections scheduled for February 2026, to gain firsthand experience of INEC’s field operations.

He commended GIZ for facilitating the exchange and reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to supporting peer institutions across Africa through partnership and capacity development.

“We remain open to sharing our systems and innovations that have shaped Nigeria’s electoral process. Our goal is to build stronger institutions that inspire public trust and strengthen democracy on the continent,” Yakubu stated.

In his remarks, the Deputy Chairman of the National Election Board of Ethiopia, Tesfaye Neway, who led the delegation, expressed appreciation to INEC for its hospitality and knowledge-sharing approach.

“INEC’s innovations and transparency in election management are inspiring. This visit offers us valuable lessons as we continue to strengthen our own democratic processes,” Neway said.

He praised Prof. Yakubu’s leadership, describing INEC as a “model for credible, inclusive, and technology-driven election administration in Africa.”

Neway noted that both countries face similar challenges such as combating misinformation, enhancing voter confidence, and ensuring peaceful participation, adding that peer learning remains essential for building resilient institutions.

“Democracy grows stronger when institutions learn from one another. Meaningful dialogue and shared experiences like this are vital to advancing credible elections across Africa,” he stressed.

The week-long programme will feature technical presentations, interactive sessions, and field visits; all aimed at strengthening institutional cooperation and enhancing electoral governance between Nigeria and Ethiopia.