Nigeria, Ethiopia strengthen ties on election management, others

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has hosted a joint delegation from the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) and the Coalition of Ethiopian Civil Society Organisations for Elections (CECOE) as part of an experience-sharing visit aimed at strengthening democratic governance and institutional collaboration between Nigeria and Ethiopia.

Welcoming the delegation in Abuja on Monday, Mahmood Yakubu, INEC chairman said the visit marked a milestone in inter-African cooperation on electoral management, noting that both Nigeria and Ethiopia share many similarities — from diverse populations to federal governance structures.

“Our two countries are multi-ethnic, multi-religious, and federal in nature. In terms of population, Nigeria and Ethiopia together account for a quarter of Africa’s population,” he stated.

“In election management, both NEBE and INEC share similar constitutional responsibilities — from conducting elections to voter education and the regulation of political parties.”

Yakubu explained that the week-long visit would feature nine technical sessions covering strategic election planning, technology deployment in voter registration, inclusivity for displaced persons, stakeholder engagement, and the role of media and civil society in elections.

He added that the Ethiopian delegation would also observe Nigeria’s ongoing voter registration exercise in the Federal Capital Territory ahead of the 2026 Area Council elections, describing it as an opportunity for “real-life observation and interaction with officials and stakeholders.”

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The INEC chairman also acknowledged the German Agency for International Development (GIZ) for facilitating the engagement, adding that two GIZ officials joined the Ethiopian team.

In his remarks, Tesfaye Neway, deputy chairman of NEBE, commended INEC’s leadership for its openness and innovation in election management, particularly in the use of technology, stakeholder engagement, and civic education.

“Under your leadership, Nigeria’s INEC has become one of Africa’s most respected electoral institutions,” he said. “We are eager to learn from your innovations and experiences as we continue to modernize our own systems.”

Neway noted that both countries face common challenges such as misinformation, electoral violence, and voter apathy, adding that sustained cooperation and peer learning were vital to deepening democracy across Africa.

Also speaking, Abera Hailemariam, executive director of CECOE, said the visit would help Ethiopian civil society organizations draw lessons from Nigeria’s experience in voter education, election monitoring, and civic participation, especially in multilingual and diverse contexts.

“We are a young organization established in 2018, and we have drawn a lot of inspiration from African institutions like INEC,” he said. “This visit will guide how we strengthen our engagement, especially in adopting technology and enhancing election observation.”

Hailemariam emphasized CECOE’s interest in understanding how Nigerian civil society groups collaborate with electoral authorities, noting that such partnerships are essential for credible and peaceful elections.

The visit, supported by the United Nations and GIZ, is expected to foster deeper institutional linkages between INEC and NEBE, promoting knowledge exchange, democratic resilience, and regional cooperation in election management across Africa.