The
European Union, under its Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN)
Programme and in collaboration with the UK International Development through
the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), has commenced a three-day
technical training in Lagos aimed at strengthening political party compliance,
reporting systems, and electoral accountability ahead of
Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
The
training, which runs from 12 to 14 May 2026, brings together officials of the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), political party
leaders, election monitoring officials, and technical experts to
deepen implementation readiness around the Electoral Act 2026 and the
revised INEC Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties.
Implemented
by DAI and The Kukah Centre under the EU-SDGN Support to Political Parties
component, the workshop is designed to strengthen institutional capacity around
compliance obligations, reporting procedures, and digital monitoring systems
introduced under Nigeria’s latest electoral reforms.
The Electoral Act
2026 and the revised INEC Regulations were introduced in response to persistent
concerns around political party administration, financial reporting, internal
governance, transparency, and accountability within Nigeria’s electoral process.
The reforms establish clearer enforcement mechanisms, standardised reporting
procedures, and stronger oversight responsibilities for both political parties
and electoral authorities.
The
Lagos training represents one of the early operational steps to support
implementation of the new framework before the 2027 election cycle.
Participants are engaging in technical sessions covering political party
financial reporting, compliance monitoring, digital reporting systems, and the
use of standardised templates within INEC’s reporting architecture. The
programme also includes mock compliance audits and practical simulation
exercises aimed at improving institutional coordination and reporting accuracy.
Speaking
during the opening session, Team Lead of the EU-SDGN component supporting
Nigeria’s electoral umpire, Rudolf Elbling, said the initiative
reflects a broader effort to strengthen democratic institutions through
practical institutional support.
“Electoral reforms
only succeed when institutions and political actors are able to operationalise
them effectively. This training is focused on implementation, consistency, and
institutional accountability,” he said.
Elbling
noted that the Electoral Act 2026 introduces important procedural and
compliance changes that require technical preparedness across
the electoral ecosystem.
“We
are moving beyond policy conversations into the systems, processes, and
operational capacities required to support credible elections,” he added.
Speaking
at the workshop, the Country Director of Westminster Foundation for Democracy,
Adebowale Olorunmola, emphasised the need for both INEC and political parties
to rebuild public trust in Nigeria’s electoral process.
“The meaningful participation of underrepresented
groups, particularly women, young people, and persons with disabilities,
depends largely on the perceived credibility, transparency, and non-violent
nature of the political system. Citizens are more likely to engage
when electoral outcomes genuinely reflect the will of the electorate.”
Executive
Director of The Kukah Centre, Rev. Fr. Atta Barkindo, said the intervention
forms part of wider efforts under the EU-SDGN programme to deepen democratic
accountability and institutional effectiveness.
“Democracy
is strengthened when institutions function effectively and when political
actors clearly understand both their obligations and the consequences of
non-compliance,” he said.
Barkindo
noted that the Training of Trainers approach adopted for the programme is
intended to support long-term institutional learning within political parties
and INEC.
“This
goes beyond a workshop. It is about strengthening systems, standardising
processes, and building institutional memory that can endure beyond a
single electoral cycle,” he added.
At the
end of the training, participants are expected to demonstrate stronger capacity
in electoral compliance and reporting under
the Electoral Act 2026. The programme will also support the
development of a structured learning curriculum and workbook, alongside the
refinement and validation of reporting and monitoring templates to improve
consistency, efficiency, and accountability in political party compliance
processes.
The
EU-SDGN Programme continues to support efforts aimed at strengthening
democratic institutions, promoting transparency, and encouraging peaceful civic
participation across Nigeria.