INEC TRAINS POLITICAL PARTIES, EPM HEADS ON POLITICAL PARTY FINANCE REPORTING SYSTEM AHEAD OF 2027 ELECTIONS:






The Chairman of the Election and Party Monitoring Committee (EMPC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Dr. Baba Bila, has reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to strengthening transparency, accountability and institutional capacity ahead of the 2027 General Election through the deployment of technology-driven electoral reforms.

Dr. Baba Bila stated this while declaring open a training programme for Heads of Department, Election and Party Monitoring (EPM) from the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), alongside leaders of political parties, on the Political Finance Reporting and Audit System (PFRAS) and the Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties 2026, held at Bon Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos State.

He described the training as “timely and strategic,” noting that the Commission was intensifying preparations towards the 2027 General Election by strengthening institutional capacity, deepening stakeholder understanding of electoral processes and enhancing compliance with legal and regulatory frameworks guiding political parties and election management in Nigeria.

According to him, the Political Party Finance Reporting and Audit System (PFRAS) represents a major milestone in INEC’s ongoing electoral reform efforts aimed at improving transparency, accountability and regulatory oversight in political finance administration.

“Political finance remains one of the most critical pillars of any democratic process. Public confidence in elections is often linked to the transparency and accountability associated with campaign financing, party expenditure and regulatory compliance,” he said.

Dr. Baba Bila explained that the PFRAS platform was carefully developed to provide a technology-driven framework for the submission, monitoring and auditing of political finance reports by political parties, adding that the system would enhance operational efficiency and strengthen public trust in the electoral process.

He further noted that the Commission recognises that the future of election administration increasingly depends on the effective deployment of technology to improve transparency, reduce operational challenges and support data-driven decision-making.

The EMPC Chairman commended the Department of Election and Party Monitoring (EPM) for driving implementation and stakeholder engagement on the initiative, citing the recent practical training conducted for officers in Ekiti State ahead of the 2026 Ekiti State Governorship Election as evidence of the Commission’s proactive preparations.

Dr. Baba Bila also emphasised the need for stronger collaboration between INEC and political parties, stressing that credible elections are built through continuous preparation, effective regulation, responsible political conduct and strict adherence to established procedures.

“The Commission remains fully committed to delivering credible, transparent and inclusive elections in line with its constitutional mandate,” he stated, while urging participants to actively engage in the training and utilise the knowledge gained to strengthen electoral administration and political party compliance at both national and state levels.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Lagos State, Prof. Ayobami Salami, described the workshop as coming at a critical moment in Nigeria’s electoral cycle, especially with increasing political activities across the country ahead of the 2027 General Election.

He noted that political parties’ membership management, compliance structures, internal discipline, financial accountability and legal capacity would come under greater scrutiny as electoral activities intensify.

Prof. Salami observed that unresolved primary election disputes, poor documentation and lack of financial transparency had contributed significantly to litigation and declining public trust in previous electoral cycles.

He explained that the Commission’s review of the 2022 Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties, which produced the 2026 Regulations and Guidelines, was informed by stakeholder engagement and evidence-based assessments aimed at shifting from reactive interventions to proactive supervision anchored on measurable compliance indicators and improved enforcement mechanisms.

Also speaking, the Country Director of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), Adebowale Olorunmola, stressed the importance of strengthening citizens’ confidence in the democratic process, noting that declining voter turnout in Nigeria reflects growing public distrust in electoral institutions and political parties.

He urged political parties to improve internal democracy, maintain transparent membership registration systems and make their platforms more inclusive for young people, women and persons with disabilities.

According to him, political parties must move beyond transactional politics and embrace reforms that promote accountability, openness and broader public participation.

The Team Lead of DAI, Rudolf Elbling, explained that participants would receive both technical and practical training on the PFRAS platform, including simulations designed to improve understanding of political finance reporting and auditing processes.

He said the system would make political finance reporting more accurate, transparent and easier for political parties and election administrators.

Similarly, the Executive Director of the Kukah Centre, Father Atta Barkindo, stressed the importance of compliance with laws and regulations in strengthening democratic governance and restoring public trust in institutions.

He stated that Nigeria does not lack laws and policies, but rather faces challenges with enforcement and compliance, adding that accountability and adherence to regulations remain essential for deepening democracy and ending the culture of impunity.

The workshop, organised by INEC in collaboration with the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), DAI and the Kukah Centre, brought together senior electoral officials, political party leaders, development partners and electoral stakeholders from across the country to enhance understanding of the Political Party Finance Reporting and Audit System (PFRAS) and the Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties 2026 ahead of the 2027 General Election.

The objectives of the workshop was presented by Prof. Dimis Mai-Lafia, who stated that the training was designed to enhance stakeholders’ understanding of key provisions and changes introduced by the Electoral Act 2026 and the Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties. He explained that the workshop also seeks to strengthen practical capacity for compliance reporting and the use of the Political Party Compliance Toolkit; improve stakeholders’ ability to generate, manage and submit compliance data through INEC’s reporting framework and digital systems; promote consistency, accuracy and standardization in compliance monitoring and reporting processes; and build a sustainable pool of trained actors capable of cascading knowledge through a Training of Trainers (ToT) model.

Prof. Mai-Lafia further stated that the expected outcomes of the workshop include the development of a comprehensive learning curriculum and workbook on electoral compliance and reporting; delivery of technical training sessions on the Electoral Act 2026 and INEC Regulations and Guidelines; conduct of a Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop; finalisation and validation of INEC monitoring templates and political party reporting templates; as well as enhanced participant capacity in compliance reporting and monitoring processes.