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

The week-long study visit, facilitated by the German Agency for International Development (GIZ), is part of an ongoing effort to strengthen democratic institutions in Africa through the exchange of electoral best practices.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, described the visit as “extraordinary,” noting it was the first time the commission hosted a joint delegation of an electoral body and a civil society coalition from another country.

“Today, we are hosting not just NEBE, led by Deputy Chairman Mr. Tesfaye Niwai, but also CECOE, representing over 180 civil society groups,” Yakubu said.

He highlighted similarities between Nigeria and Ethiopia, pointing out that both countries are federal, multi-ethnic, and multi-religious nations with large populations—over 220 million in Nigeria and 135 million in Ethiopia. Both commissions share responsibilities including conducting elections, regulating political parties, monitoring campaign finance, delimiting constituencies, creating polling units, accrediting observers, and conducting voter education programmes.

During the visit, the Ethiopian delegation will participate in nine technical sessions covering strategic election planning, the use of technology in voter registration, inclusivity for displaced persons and persons with disabilities (PWDs), candidate nomination, media engagement, and voter education. Selected sessions will also include civil society organizations, media representatives, and the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) to foster cross-learning and stakeholder interaction.

The study tour coincides with the ongoing voter registration exercise in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) ahead of the February 2026 Area Council elections, giving the Ethiopian delegation a firsthand look at Nigeria’s voter registration operations.

Yakubu urged the visitors to freely engage with INEC officials and stakeholders and expressed appreciation to GIZ for its support of electoral development initiatives across Africa.

The visit underscores INEC’s growing role as a reference point for electoral management in Africa, promoting regional collaboration, peer learning, and democratic resilience through knowledge exchange and institutional partnerships.