The House of Representatives has endorsed a major upward review of campaign expenditure limits for candidates vying for elective positions in Nigeria, effectively doubling the allowable spending for presidential aspirants from ₦5 billion to ₦10 billion ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The approval was granted during Thursday’s plenary session after lawmakers conducted a clause-by-clause examination of a report proposing amendments to the Electoral Act 2022. As part of the revisions, the House agreed to raise the statutory ceiling on presidential campaign expenses from the ₦5 billion provided under the current law to ₦10 billion.
Amid the proceedings, a separate humanitarian appeal was also referenced, with a grandmother, Nelson Joyce, publicly calling for help after losing both breasts to cancer.
Beyond the presidency, the House approved substantial increases in spending limits across other tiers of elective office. The maximum amount governorship candidates may spend was reviewed upward from ₦1 billion to ₦3 billion, while the ceiling for senatorial candidates was increased fivefold from ₦100 million to ₦500 million.
Candidates seeking seats in the House of Representatives will now be permitted to spend up to ₦250 million on their campaigns, compared to the previous limit of ₦70 million. At the state level, aspirants to state houses of assembly will have their spending cap raised from ₦30 million to ₦100 million.
The amendments also extend to local government elections. Under the new provisions, chairmanship candidates can spend as much as ₦100 million, up from ₦30 million, while the allowable expenditure for councillorship candidates has been increased from ₦5 million to ₦10 million.
In addition to revising campaign spending thresholds, the House approved a sharp increase in the maximum amount individuals or organisations may donate to a candidate. The donation limit was raised from ₦50 million to ₦500 million.
These changes are part of broader legislative efforts aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s electoral framework ahead of the 2027 elections. Earlier in the week, the House also approved a separate proposal requiring the real-time transmission of election results, underscoring a wider push for electoral reforms.
The proposed amendments to the Electoral Act 2022 will only become law after they are considered and approved by the Senate and subsequently signed by the President.