Jane Salihu
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has intensified efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral system through global engagement and knowledge exchange, as its Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, led a high-level delegation to the International Election Observation Programme (IEOP) in the Republic of Korea.
The programme, organised by South Korea’s National Election Commission (NEC), is taking place from May 29 to June 5, 2026, alongside the country’s Nationwide Simultaneous Local Elections. It brings together election management bodies, electoral experts, and international observers from different parts of the world to study and exchange ideas on electoral administration and governance.
The opening ceremony of the programme was held in Seoul on Saturday, May 30, 2026, marking the commencement of a series of observation and learning activities designed to expose participants to South Korea’s electoral processes and innovations.
Accompanying the INEC Chairman are National Commissioner, Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu; Chief Technical Adviser to the Chairman, Prof. Dimis Mai-Lafia; and Director of Training, Dr. Binta Kasim Mohammed.
As part of the programme, the INEC delegation visited an early voting centre in Mia-dong, Gangbuk-gu, Seoul, where they observed voting operations and interacted with election officials to gain firsthand insight into the country’s election management procedures.
The participation of the Commission in the international programme underscores INEC’s commitment to continuous improvement and adoption of global best practices in election administration. It also provides an opportunity for the Commission to deepen its understanding of emerging trends in electoral governance, voter participation, election observation, and the use of technology in democratic processes.
Observers believe the experience will further enrich INEC’s ongoing reforms aimed at enhancing the credibility, transparency, and efficiency of elections in Nigeria, while strengthening collaboration with electoral institutions across the world.
