Electoral Act Raises Presidential Campaign Spending to N10bn

The recent amendments to the Electoral Act have raised the presidential campaign expenditure limit to N10 billion. The new spending thresholds for various elections include N1 billion for governorship polls, N500 million for Senate, and N30 million for House of Representatives.

Senator Sundai Bamidel explained that the legislation introduces stringent measures against electoral offenses, including a two-year imprisonment and fines ranging from N500,000 to N2 million for violations. The Act mandates the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to release certified true copies of documents within 24 hours of payment, with non-compliance resulting in a minimum two-year imprisonment without an option of fine.

The National Assembly has also established a dedicated fund for INEC to ensure financial autonomy and operational stability. The new electoral framework is expected to enhance transparency and accountability in Nigeria's electoral management system, with provisions for electronic transmission of results and a bimodal voter verification system.

The bill is set to be signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to avoid constitutional crises ahead of the 2027 general elections.