The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) today welcomed a joint delegation from the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) and the Coalition of Ethiopian Civil Society Organisations for Elections (CECOE), led by Mr. Tesfaye Neway, Deputy Chairman of NEBE. The visit forms part of an experience-sharing and strategic partnership initiative aimed at promoting credible elections and strengthening democratic institutions across the African continent.
Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, received the delegation at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja, where he underscored the importance of inter-institutional cooperation in improving electoral governance. He stated that the one-week working visit would include nine technical sessions covering the entire electoral process in Nigeria—from planning and voter registration to stakeholder engagement and election monitoring.
“INEC and NEBE share similar constitutional responsibilities. Over the next week, we will share various aspects of the Nigerian experience in conducting elections, including innovations in technology, inclusivity, and stakeholder engagement,” Prof. Yakubu said. “This visit is happening at a time when voter registration is ongoing in the Federal Capital Territory ahead of the February 2026 FCT Area Council Elections, giving our guests the chance to observe real-time voter registration.”
Prof. Yakubu also expressed appreciation to the German Agency for International Development in Ethiopia for facilitating the visit, assuring the delegation of a meaningful and interactive engagement.
Speaking on behalf of NEBE, Deputy Chairman Mr. Tesfaye Neway highlighted the significance of the visit in fostering mutual learning and strengthening electoral institutions across Africa.
“Our presence here is part of an experience and exposure visit aimed at building strategic partnerships between our institutions. We believe democracy grows stronger when institutions learn from one another,” Mr. Neway said. “We hope to learn from Nigeria’s innovations in voter registration, electoral technology, civic education, and stakeholder engagement while also sharing the challenges we face, such as electoral violence and misinformation.”
Mr. Abera Hailemariam, Executive Director of CECOE, also emphasized the importance of continued collaboration between civil society and electoral bodies, particularly in strengthening voter education efforts.
“We value this partnership and look forward to deeper cooperation between NEBE and INEC, with support from development partners. We are especially interested in how Nigeria conducts voter education in diverse languages,” Mr. Hailemariam remarked.
Following the group photographs, the INEC team and the Ethiopian delegation proceeded into a business session, marking the official commencement of the technical engagements.
The meeting was also attended by INEC National Commissioners, Secretary to the Commission, Technical Aides to the INEC Chairman, and Senior Commission officials.
