INEC, Ethiopian delegation hold talks on electoral reforms

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on Monday received a delegation from the National Election Board of Ethiopia, NEBE, and the Coalition of Ethiopian Civil Society Organisations for Elections, CECOE), to exchange ideas on election management and strengthen democratic governance across Africa.

The delegation, led by NEBE Deputy Chairman Mr. Tesfaye Neway, is in Nigeria for a one-week study visit that will feature nine technical sessions on various aspects of the Nigerian electoral process from planning and voter registration to stakeholder engagement and election monitoring.

Welcoming the visitors at the Commission’s headquarters, INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, described the visit as “an extraordinary engagement,” highlighting the participation of both the Ethiopian electoral body and civil society organisations under CECOE.

“It is my pleasure to warmly welcome our visitors from the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. In the past, we only interacted with colleagues from electoral commissions. Today, we are hosting a joint delegation from NEBE and CECOE representing over 180 civil society organisations who are here to understudy the Nigerian electoral process,” Mahood said.

He noted the similarities between Nigeria and Ethiopia as multi-ethnic, multi-religious, and federal nations, observing that both countries account for about a quarter of Africa’s total population.

“In the area of election management, NEBE and INEC also share similar constitutional responsibilities, which include the conduct of national and regional elections, registration and regulation of political parties, monitoring of election expenses, constituency delimitation, and voter education,” he explained.

The INEC chairman outlined the scope of the week-long engagement, which includes sessions on strategic planning, inclusivity in elections, voter registration technology, stakeholder engagement, and the management of candidate nominations.

“For an extensive experience-sharing engagement of this nature, the Commission has invited some civil society organisations, the media, and the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) to join specific technical sessions to exchange ideas with our visitors,” he said.

He added that the visit coincides with the ongoing voter registration exercise in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) ahead of the February 2026 Area Council Elections, offering the delegation an opportunity to observe voter registration in real time.

Prof. Yakubu commended the German Agency for International Development (GIZ) in Ethiopia for facilitating the visit and reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to fostering inter-institutional learning.

“We assure you that our engagement with colleagues from Ethiopia will be a worthwhile experience,” he concluded.

Speaking earlier, NEBE Deputy Chairman Mr. Tesfaye Neway said the visit was part of a broader effort to strengthen partnerships between electoral institutions in Africa.

“Our presence here is an exposure visit aimed at building collaboration between our institutions. We believe democracy grows stronger when institutions learn from one another,” he said.

Mr. Abera Hailemariam, Executive Director of CECOE, also emphasized the importance of partnership between civil society and electoral bodies in promoting voter education and public confidence in the democratic process.

The meeting was attended by INEC National Commissioners, the Secretary to the Commission, Technical Aides to the Chairman, senior officials, and members of the INEC Press Corps. It concluded with a group photograph before participants proceeded to the first technical session.