INEC Hosts Ethiopian Delegation in Abuja to Strengthen Africa’s Electoral Systems

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Monday received a high-level delegation from the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) and the Coalition of Ethiopian Civil Society Organizations for Elections (CECOE) at its headquarters in Abuja.

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

In his remarks, INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, described the engagement as “extraordinary,” noting that it was the first time INEC would host a joint delegation of an electoral management body and civil society coalition from another country.

“This visit is unique because, in the past, we interacted mainly with colleagues from electoral commissions,” Yakubu said. “Today, we are hosting not just the National Election Board of Ethiopia, led by its Deputy Chairman, Mr. Tesfaye Niwai, but also CECOE, representing over 180 civil society groups.”

Yakubu highlighted the shared democratic values and governance similarities between Nigeria and Ethiopia, both being multi-ethnic and federal systems managing large populations — over 135 million in Ethiopia and 220 million in Nigeria, accounting for about a quarter of Africa’s total population.

He also noted that both electoral bodies share constitutional duties, including conducting elections, registering political parties, monitoring campaign finance, creating constituencies, and promoting voter education and inclusivity.

During the one-week study tour, the Ethiopian delegation will engage in nine technical sessions covering topics such as strategic election planning, technology in voter registration, inclusion of displaced persons and PWDs, observer accreditation, and media engagement.

The visit coincides with Nigeria’s ongoing voter registration exercise in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) ahead of the 2026 Area Council elections, allowing the delegation to witness INEC’s operations firsthand.

Yakubu expressed gratitude to GIZ for facilitating the engagement and reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to promoting peer learning, regional collaboration, and electoral innovation across Africa.