By Blessing Fali
A total of 146 candidates contesting the 2027 presidential and governorship elections could collectively spend up to N571 billion under the campaign expenditure limits prescribed by the Electoral Act 2026.
The figure comprises 19 presidential candidates, who are each permitted to spend a maximum of N10 billion, amounting to N190 billion collectively. The 127 governorship candidates are each allowed to spend up to N3 billion, bringing their combined ceiling to N381 billion.
The N571 billion represents the maximum amount candidates are legally permitted to spend and does not mean that the candidates will actually raise or spend the entire amount.
Under Section 92 of the Electoral Act 2026, candidates who knowingly exceed the prescribed limits may face a fine equivalent to one per cent of the permitted expenditure limit, imprisonment for up to 12 months, or both. Individual donations to a candidate are also capped at N500 million.
The new limits are significantly higher than those contained in the Electoral Act 2022, which set presidential campaign expenditure at N5 billion and governorship expenditure at N1 billion.
The development comes as political campaigns for the 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections have commenced, with campaign finance and compliance expected to remain major issues ahead of the polls.
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