Ethiopian and Nigerian Election Bodies Unite for Knowledge Exchange Ahead of Elections

The National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) has made an experience-sharing visit to Nigeria ahead of the 7th general election. The NEBE delegation, led by Deputy Chairperson Tesfaye Niway, attended the week-long experience-sharing event starting October 6, 2025.

At the launching ceremony, which took place at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja, Tesfaye appreciated the warm welcome extended by the INEC commissioners and staff. In his remarks, he noted that the visit is part of an experience and exposure mission aimed at building strategic partnerships. "Democratic institutions become stronger when they learn from each other’s experiences," he stressed.

Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, INEC Chairman, mentioned that Nigeria shares many similarities with Ethiopia, such as a large population size, diversity, and a federal system. He described the visit as a remarkable platform for mutual learning. Yakubu further explained that the study visit is designed to provide a comprehensive overview of Nigeria’s electoral system, with particular emphasis on the application of technology in voter registration, the management of candidate nominations, and strategies to promote inclusive participation.

During the experience-sharing sessions, both NEBE and INEC presented their expertise throughout the election process, covering pre-election, during the election, and post-election phases. Strategic planning, legal frameworks, technology in voter registration, inclusivity in elections, stakeholder engagement, candidate management, election monitoring, and logistics are among the topics on which both election management bodies shared their experiences.

The experience sharing also included firsthand insights into INEC’s field operations, with visits to the ongoing voter registration in the Federal Capital Territory ahead of the February 2026 FCT Area Council Elections, the INEC Center of Excellence, and their traditional and digital library.

During the closing ceremony of the week-long engagement, in which NEBE and the Coalition of Ethiopian CSOs for Elections (CECOE) participated, Tesfaye expressed his heartfelt appreciation for the well-coordinated hosting by the INEC management bodies and staff. He stated that this is just the beginning and that strengthening collaboration will continue. In his final remarks, he thanked GIZ Ethiopia and GIZ Nigeria for facilitating this experience sharing.