The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has organised a workshop for Heads of Department of Election and Party Monitoring (EPM) from the 36 states and the FCT, alongside political party leaders, on the Political Finance Reporting and Audit System (PFRAS) and the Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties 2026.
The training was held at Bon Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos State.
Declaring the programme open, the Chairman of INEC’s Election and Party Monitoring Committee, Dr. Baba Bila, said the commission is committed to strengthening transparency, accountability and institutional capacity ahead of the 2027 General Election through technology-driven reforms.
He described the training as “timely and strategic,” noting that INEC is intensifying preparations for 2027 by deepening stakeholder understanding of electoral processes and improving compliance with the legal and regulatory frameworks guiding political parties.
According to Bila, PFRAS represents a major milestone in INEC’s electoral reform efforts aimed at improving transparency, accountability and 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.
Bila explained that the PFRAS platform was developed to provide a technology-driven framework for the submission, monitoring and auditing of political finance reports by political parties. He said the system would improve operational efficiency and strengthen public trust in the electoral process.
He added that the future of election administration 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 for driving the initiative and stakeholder engagement. He cited the recent practical training for officers in Ekiti State ahead of the 2026 Ekiti State Governorship Election as evidence of the commission’s proactive preparations.
Bila also called for stronger collaboration between INEC and political parties, stressing that credible elections are built through continuous preparation, effective regulation, responsible political conduct and adherence to established procedures.
“The Commission remains fully committed to delivering credible, transparent and inclusive elections in line with its constitutional mandate,” he stated, urging participants to use the knowledge gained to strengthen electoral administration and political party compliance at both national and state levels.
