The Electoral Commission of Benin has reached out to the Independent National Electoral Commission for assistance as it prepares for a challenging electoral cycle in 2026.
A delegation from Benin’s Electoral Commission, led by its President, Dr. Sacca Lafia, has visited Abuja to learn from the practices of the INEC.
The purpose of the visit is to understand Nigeria’s electoral procedures to effectively manage three significant elections in Benin scheduled within a short span—legislative and local polls in January 2026, followed by the presidential election in April 2026.
During the visit, the Chairman of the INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, welcomed the delegation and assured them of Nigeria’s support in Benin’s election preparations.
Yakubu mentioned that the CENA delegation expressed interest in various aspects of Nigeria’s electoral system, including legal frameworks, election material production, training of election officials, budgeting, security measures, technology use, observer accreditation, stakeholder engagement, and more.
He reiterated INEC’s commitment to sharing knowledge and expertise to enhance electoral processes in the region.
Lafia praised INEC for their warm welcome and highlighted the significance of the visit in preparing for Benin’s upcoming elections.
“Our President has tasked us with overseeing three elections in a short timeframe in 2026. By learning from Nigeria’s experiences, we aim to conduct successful elections in Benin. This engagement will undoubtedly contribute to our success,” Lafia stated.