The National Assembly (NASS) has increased the campaign spending limits for presidential candidates to N10 billion and that of governorship candidates to N3 billion under the newly enacted Electoral Act 2026.
The revised thresholds were disclosed in a statement on Sunday by Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, through his Directorate of Media and Public Affairs, outlining key reforms in the new electoral framework recently assented to by Bola Tinubu.
According to the statement, the adjustments contained in Section 92 (1–8) of the Electoral Act 2026 reflect prevailing economic realities and the rising cost of campaigns, while retaining statutory safeguards to regulate election financing.
Under the repealed Electoral Act 2022, presidential candidates were limited to N5 billion in campaign spending. The new law doubles the ceiling to N10 billion, while the governorship cap rises from N1 billion to N3 billion.
Spending limits for other elective offices were also reviewed upward. Senate candidates can now spend up to N500 million, up from N100 million, while House of Representatives candidates are permitted N250 million, compared to the previous N70 million.
For State House of Assembly elections, the ceiling increases from N30 million to N100 million. At the local government level, Area Council chairmanship candidates can now spend N60 million, up from N30 million, while councillorship candidates are capped at N10 million, an increase from N5 million.
Bamidele said enforcement mechanisms, including sanctions for breaches of prescribed limits, remain embedded in the law to curb excessive spending and safeguard the integrity of the electoral process.
The revised campaign finance provisions form part of broader reforms harmonised by both chambers of the National Assembly on February 17 and subsequently signed into law by the President.
