Nigeria raises presidential campaign spending limit to ₦10 billion under Electoral Act 2026, ahead of the 2027 general elections
Nigeria’s National Assembly has doubled the spending ceiling for presidential candidates to ₦10 billion under the new Electoral Act 2026, ahead of the 2027 general election.
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The legislation, signed by President Bola Tinubu on February 18, also increases campaign spending limits across other political offices.
Under the new law, governorship candidates can spend up to ₦3 billion, up from ₦1 billion, while Senate hopefuls now have a cap of ₦500 million, and House of Representatives candidates can spend ₦250 million, up from ₦70 million under the Electoral Act 2022.
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele explained that the upward adjustments reflect current economic realities and the rising costs of electioneering while retaining statutory limits to regulate campaign financing.
The Act also raises limits for state assembly candidates from ₦30 million to ₦100 million. Area council chairmanship candidates may now spend ₦60 million, up from ₦30 million, and councillorship candidates are capped at ₦10 million, double the previous ₦5 million limit.
Beyond financing, the law introduces stricter penalties for electoral offences. Individuals involved in vote buying, impersonation, or manipulation of results face up to two years’ imprisonment, fines ranging from ₦500,000 to ₦2 million, or both.
Presiding officers who frustrate the electronic transmission of results risk six months’ imprisonment or a ₦500,000 fine.
The Act mandates the compulsory use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and electronic transmission of results to INEC’s Result Viewing Portal.
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Lawmakers said the reforms aim to strengthen transparency, reduce electoral disputes, and enhance the credibility of Nigeria’s elections as preparations intensify for 2027.
