Campaign Cash Soars!” — Reps Approve ₦10 Billion Spending Limit For 2027 Presidential Candidates

The House of Representatives has approved a major 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 came during Thursday’s plenary following a clause-by-clause review of a report on the proposed electoral law amendments.

Under the new changes, the maximum campaign expenditure for presidential candidates has been doubled from ₦5 billion to ₦10 billion. Other elective positions also saw significant increases in spending ceilings:

• Governorship elections: from ₦1 billion to ₦3 billion

• Senatorial candidates: from ₦100 million to ₦500 million

• House of Representatives candidates: from ₦70 million to ₦250 million

• State Houses of Assembly candidates: from ₦30 million to ₦100 million

• Local government chairmanship candidates: from ₦30 million to ₦100 million

• Councillorship candidates: from ₦5 million to ₦10 million

The House further approved a sharp rise in the maximum donations an individual or organization can contribute to a candidate, raising the limit from ₦50 million to ₦500 million, citing alignment with current economic realities and the rising cost of political campaigns.

These adjustments form part of broader legislative efforts by the National Assembly to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral framework ahead of the 2027 elections.

Notably, on Wednesday, the House had approved another key amendment mandating the real-time electronic transmission of election results, a reform long championed by civil society groups and election observers.

The proposed amendments will take effect once they are approved by the Senate and assented to by the President.