.…As REC commissioner assures of a level playground for political parties
- By Demola Atobaba, Ado-Ekiti
Ahead of the 2026 June 20 gubernatorial election in Ekiti State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has embarked on training the auditors, treasurers and candidates of political parties participating in the coming election on how to effectively report their campaign finances through the use of PRFRAS.
Flagging of the workshop on Thursday in Ado-Ekiti, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ekiti State, Dr. Bunmi Omoseyindemi said he is honoured to address the participants on the use of the Political Party Financial Reporting and Analysis system (PRFRAS) and campaign finance reporting requirements ahead of the 2026 Ekiti State Governorship Election.
The Commissioner said the engagement is timely and critical as we approach the election and is highly imperative that all Stakeholders’ especially political parties and their candidates fully understand their obligations regarding campaign finances.
Omoseyindemi highlighted further that transparency and accountability in political financing are not optional but fundamental pillars of credible elections and democratic integrity.
He said the commission introduced PRFRAS as a technology _ driven platform to simplify, standardize and strengthen compliance with campaign finance regulations, noting further that through this system, political parties are expected to submit accurate, timely and verifiable financial reports in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act and INEC Guidelines.
While emphasizing on the importance of the workshop, the Ekiti INEC Commissioner said compliance to proper financial records is mandatory and must be submitted to INEC within the stipulated timelines, while failure to comply attrects sanctions as provided by law.
He said further that accountability and transparency are very essential in any credible election because it builds public trust. He said the candidates, treasurers and auditors are the custodian of the party’s financial integrity therefore every donation received and expenditures must be properly documented and reported.
“Our goal is not punitive- it is preventive. This workshop is part of our broader effort to guide and support you towards full compliance. PRFRAS is designed to make this process easier, but compliance rests with you. Non compliance will attract sanctions.” He said.
While speaking on the objectives of the workshop, one of the resource persons, Oye Asuko said it is to acquire more knowledge on campaign financial reporting and to put every party and it’s members through on reporting their financial expenses through the use of PRFRAS for accurate reporting.
In his contribution, Barr. Mustapha Abubakar said Electoral Act stipulated the amount every candidate can spend during elections right from the presidential to local government counsellor.
For presidential election according to the Barrister, the stipulated expenses to be incurred by a candidate at a presidential election must not exceed #10,000,000,000, for governorship election N 3, 000,000,000, the House of Senate N 500, 000,000, House of Representatives, N25,000,000″.
“In the case of State Assembly, N10,000,000, Chairmanship election should not exceed N100, 000,000 and councillorship expenditures should not exceed N10, 000,000”.
Mustapha maintained that any candidate that knowingly acts in contravention of this section, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of 1% of the amount permitted as the limit of campaign expenditure under this act or imprisonment for a term not more than 12 months or both.
Notable Dignitaries at the event include, Ekiti Residential Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Bunmi Omoseyindemi, Barrister Mustapha Abubakar, HOD, election and party monitoring, Ekiti State INEC, Kehinde Mustapha and Mas’ud Hassan.
The13 political parties participating in the forthcoming elections were in attendance at the workshop includes;2 APC, PRP, YPP, ADP, PDP, APP, AAC, LP, ACC, APM, ADC, Accord Party, and NNPP.
