The Electoral Act 2026 has set a combined campaign spending ceiling of N571bn for the 146 candidates already in the race for the 2027 presidential and governorship elections. That figure is the legal maximum they may spend, not money already given to them or guaranteed to reach their campaign accounts.
Nineteen presidential candidates are each allowed to spend up to N10bn, putting their combined limit at N190bn. Another 127 governorship candidates may spend up to N3bn apiece, which comes to N381bn in all. Section 92 of the new Act is the provision that sets those caps.
The announcement came as the Independent National Electoral Commission released the personal particulars and credentials of the 19 presidential candidates and their running mates ahead of the 2027 poll. That publication opened the way for the presidential campaign, which began on Wednesday, 19 August 2026.
Zoyols News notes that 127 candidates across 28 states are expected to contest for governor in 2027. Of that number, 122 have been nominated, four have declared, and one is still being monitored. A check of the INEC website showed the commission had yet to publish a full official list of 2027 governorship candidates, with its election page still stating that the list would be available soon.
Campaigns will now be measured against those spending limits as the race for Aso Rock and the state houses gathers pace.
