Francis Gabriel Oke is a senior expert in international relations, diplomacy, democratic governance, and electoral assistance. He currently serves as Senior Advisor for Africa at the European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES).

With over 30 years of experience, he has held high-level roles such as Permanent Representative of ECOWAS to the African Union, Permanent Secretary of RESAO/ECONEC, and Head of the Electoral Assistance Programme at ECOWAS. He has also worked with USAID, IFES, UNDP, and other international bodies across West Africa, Central Africa, and the Great Lakes region.

Francis Oke holds degrees in law and human rights (National University of Benin, Lyon Institute) and is currently pursuing a PhD at the Centre for Diplomatic and Strategic Studies in Paris. A certified BRIDGE facilitator, he has led numerous international missions on electoral observation, mediation, and institutional capacity-building throughout Africa.