A high-level delegation from Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is on the ground in Dhaka, Bangladesh, to monitor the country’s 13th Parliamentary Elections and a historic national referendum scheduled for 12 February 2026.
Leading the delegation on behalf of INEC Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, is National Commissioner Professor Sunday Ajah, accompanied by Resident Electoral Commissioner for Plateau State Mallam Mohammed Abubakar Sadiq and the CPS/Media Adviser to the INEC Chairman, Mr. Adedayo Oketola. The team has begun pre-election activities, including visits to polling stations across Dhaka to assess logistical arrangements.
The Chief Election Commissioner of Bangladesh, Mr. A M M Nasir Uddin, welcomed international and domestic observers at a formal briefing, alongside four other Electoral Commissioners. He confirmed that nearly 128 million voters will decide the fate of 2,028 candidates representing 50 political parties across 299 constituencies, while simultaneously voting on the “July National Charter” referendum—a landmark proposal for constitutional and institutional reform.
The scale of the electoral exercise has drawn significant international attention, with around 330 international observers, including 220 from the European Union, and over 160 foreign journalists present. Domestically, 45,000 local observers and 60,000 journalists are accredited to cover the elections.
To ensure a credible and peaceful process, Bangladesh has deployed 900,000 security personnel nationwide. Voting will take place in a single-day window, starting at 7:30 AM and ending at 4:30 PM.
As part of the observation program, INEC and other international delegates were given a guided tour of the Jatiya Sangsad, Bangladesh’s National Parliament, to understand the country’s legislative history and governance framework.
The INEC delegation’s presence underscores Nigeria’s commitment to supporting democratic processes abroad and learning from international best practices in electoral management.
