The House of Representatives has approved a significant increase in campaign spending limits for candidates contesting elective offices in Nigeria, as part of ongoing amendments to the Electoral Act 2022 ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The decision was taken during Thursday’s plenary following a clause-by-clause consideration of a report on the proposed amendment to the electoral law. The review seeks to adjust existing financial thresholds to reflect current economic realities and evolving campaign demands.
Under the approved changes, the maximum amount a presidential candidate can spend on electioneering was increased from ₦5 billion to ₦10 billion. For gubernatorial candidates, the spending ceiling was raised from ₦1 billion to ₦3 billion.
Candidates seeking election into the Senate will now be permitted to spend up to ₦500 million, a sharp rise from the previous ₦100 million limit. Similarly, the campaign spending cap for candidates vying for seats in the House of Representatives was reviewed upward from ₦70 million to ₦250 million.
At the state level, candidates contesting elections into state houses of assembly will now be allowed to spend a maximum of ₦100 million, compared to the former ₦30 million threshold.
The revised limits also extend to local government elections. Chairmanship candidates can now spend up to ₦100 million on their campaigns, an increase from ₦30 million, while the spending cap for councillorship candidates was doubled from ₦5 million to ₦10 million.
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Beyond campaign expenditure, the lawmakers also approved a substantial increase in the allowable amount an individual or organisation can donate to a candidate. The donation ceiling was raised from ₦50 million to ₦500 million, marking one of the most notable changes in the amendment.
The development follows another key reform approved by the House on Wednesday, which mandates the real-time transmission of election results, a measure aimed at strengthening transparency and public confidence in the electoral process.
The proposed amendments will only take effect after concurrence by the Senate and assent by the President, completing the legislative process required to alter the Electoral Act ahead of the next general elections.
The Cable
