Nigeria has significantly increased campaign spending limits for major political offices after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed the Electoral Act 2026 into law ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Under the newly enacted legislation, presidential candidates can now spend up to ₦10 billion, double the previous ₦5 billion cap set under the 2022 Electoral Act. The spending ceiling for governorship candidates has also been raised from ₦1 billion to ₦3 billion.
The bill was approved by the National Assembly, harmonised between both chambers, and signed into law within 24 hours of transmission to the presidency.
New Campaign Spending Limits Across All Offices
The Electoral Act 2026 introduces sweeping revisions to campaign finance thresholds across federal and state positions:
Senate candidates: ₦500 million (up from ₦100 million)
House of Representatives: ₦250 million (up from ₦70 million)
State House of Assembly: ₦100 million (up from ₦30 million)
Area council chairmanship: ₦60 million (up from ₦30 million)
Councillorship: ₦10 million (up from ₦5 million)
Lawmakers say the increases reflect inflation, rising operational costs, and modern campaign realities, while maintaining legal limits to regulate election financing.
Authorities also confirmed that enforcement mechanisms remain in place for candidates who exceed the approved spending thresholds.
Tougher Penalties for Electoral Offences
Beyond campaign financing, the new law introduces stricter sanctions aimed at improving electoral integrity.
Offences such as vote buying, impersonation, and result manipulation now attract penalties of up to two years’ imprisonment, fines ranging between ₦500,000 and ₦2 million, or both.
Presiding officers who deliberately obstruct the electronic transmission of election results face up to six months’ imprisonment, a ₦500,000 fine, or both.
The law reinforces mandatory electronic transmission of results and strengthens the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), deepening Nigeria’s reliance on digital tools to improve transparency.
Faster Document Release and Court-Ordered Swearing-In
The Act also mandates that a Resident Electoral Commissioner must release certified election documents within 24 hours of payment. Failure to comply carries a minimum two-year prison sentence without the option of a fine.
Additionally, where the electoral commission delays issuing a certificate of return, a certified court judgment declaring a winner is now sufficient for swearing-in.
What This Means for Nigeria’s 2027 Elections
The Electoral Act 2026 is being positioned as a major reform designed to:
Improve campaign finance transparency
Reduce post-election disputes
Strengthen electronic result transmission
Enhance public trust in the democratic process
With higher financial thresholds and tougher penalties now codified into law, attention will shift toward enforcement and implementation as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections.
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