- Safiu Kehinde
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has hailed the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) for learning from Nigeria’s electoral process.
NPO Reported that the Ethiopian delegates had last week Tuesday arrived at INEC’s headquarters in Abuja for a one-week electoral study tour.
While hosting the delegates, the immediate past INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who received the delegates, described the visit as an opportunity for mutual learning and deeper understanding between the two leading African nations.
He noted that Nigeria and Ethiopia, the continent’s most populous countries, are both multi-ethnic and multi-religious, operating federal systems to manage their diversity.
Having completed their study, the Acting INEC Chairman, Mrs May Agbamuche-Mbu, expressed her gratitude to the delegates during a farewell dinner in Abuja, describing the week-long engagement as mutually beneficial.
“We hope all you have learnt here will contribute positively to the advancement of democratic practices in your country,” she said.
The NEBE delegation, accompanied by members of the Coalition of Ethiopian Civil Society Organisations for Elections (CECOE), spent a week engaging with INEC officials and learning about Nigeria’s electoral system.
Speaking on behalf of the visitors, NEBE Deputy Chairman, Mr Tesfaye Niwai, thanked INEC for its warm hospitality and noted that Nigeria’s diversity and democratic resilience were inspiring.
“We’ve gained valuable insights into INEC’s legal framework, inclusivity strategies, and stakeholder engagement,” Niwai said, adding that the experience would support ongoing reforms in Ethiopia.
INEC’s Secretary, Mrs Rose Oriaran-Anthony, commended the immediate past INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, for initiating the partnership and hailed the acting chair for sustaining it.
The visit, supported by GIZ Nigeria and Ethiopia, ended with both institutions reaffirming their commitment to electoral development and democratic cooperation across Africa.