The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) of Kenya has visited the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja on a benchmarking mission to learn from Nigeria’s electoral processes ahead of Kenya’s August 2027 general elections.
The delegation, led by Kenya’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ambassador Isaac Parashina, paid a courtesy visit to INEC, where discussions focused on electoral preparations, diaspora voting and the participation of special interest groups.
Speaking during the visit, INEC Acting Chairman, Professor Rhoda Gumus, said the commission had completed nine activities in its preparations for Nigeria’s forthcoming general elections and was intensifying efforts to ensure operational readiness.
Gumus disclosed that INEC had concluded a nationwide assessment tour of the six geopolitical zones to evaluate preparations, identify challenges and determine areas requiring further attention ahead of the elections.
She said the commission had made significant progress in the distribution of election materials, revealing that non-sensitive materials were already being transported to some zones.
According to her, Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) had been produced, with the first and second batches distributed to most states, while collection by eligible voters was ongoing.
The Acting Chairman also identified staff capacity building, alongside the procurement and deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), as some of the ongoing activities aimed at strengthening the electoral process.
She, however, explained that certain electoral arrangements, including aspirant voting, could not be implemented under the existing electoral law without the necessary legislative amendment.
Gumus said INEC had organised an interactive session between its directors and the visiting Kenyan delegation to provide technical insights into the commission’s operations and share experiences that could support Kenya’s preparations.
She welcomed the delegation, describing the visit as an opportunity to strengthen institutional cooperation and promote knowledge exchange between the two electoral management bodies.
In his remarks, Kenya’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ambassador Isaac Parashina, said the visit reflected the longstanding friendship between both countries and their shared commitment to strengthening democratic institutions.
He noted that Kenya would hold its general elections in August 2027, while Nigeria was also preparing for its forthcoming electoral cycle, making the engagement particularly important for exchanging experiences and best practices.
Parashina described Nigeria as Africa’s largest democracy by population, saying developments in the country’s electoral system attracted considerable attention across the continent.
He explained that the IEBC delegation was particularly interested in understanding how Nigeria manages voting arrangements for citizens living abroad and special interest groups.
According to him, Kenya currently has about 12 countries where its citizens participate in diaspora voting, but the country is considering expanding the coverage to approximately 26 countries ahead of the 2027 elections.
He said the proposed expansion was driven by constitutional provisions and court rulings requiring the progressive extension of voting rights to eligible Kenyans living outside the country.
The High Commissioner noted that Nigeria’s experience would provide useful insights for Kenya as it explores ways to broaden electoral participation and strengthen its voting arrangements for citizens abroad.
He expressed appreciation to INEC for hosting the delegation, assuring that Kenya looked forward to sustained cooperation with the Nigerian electoral commission.
Parashina also wished INEC success in its preparations and expressed optimism that the engagement would strengthen electoral cooperation between both countries.
The visit is expected to deepen institutional ties between INEC and IEBC while providing an opportunity for both commissions to exchange technical knowledge and experiences on electoral administration, diaspora participation and inclusive voting ahead of their respective 2027 general elections.
