2027 Poll: Presidential, Governorship Candidates Face N571bn Campaign Spending Limit

No fewer than 146 candidates contesting the 2027 presidential and governorship elections could collectively spend up to N571bn under the campaign expenditure limits prescribed by the Electoral Act 2026.

The figure comprises 19 presidential candidates, each permitted to spend up to N10bn, and 127 governorship candidates, each limited to N3bn. The presidential candidates therefore have a combined spending limit of N190bn, while the governorship candidates could collectively spend up to N381bn.

The combined N571bn represents the maximum amount the candidates could lawfully spend if each reaches the prescribed limit. It does not mean the candidates have raised or will actually spend the entire amount during the campaigns.

The development comes as the Independent National Electoral Commission published the personal particulars and credentials of the 19 presidential candidates and their running mates ahead of the 2027 election. The publication paved the way for the commencement of the presidential campaign on Wednesday, August 19, 2026.

According to NGelections.com, 127 candidates across 28 states are expected to contest the 2027 governorship elections. However, INEC had yet to publish the complete list of governorship candidates on its official 2027 election portal, which stated that the information would be made available soon.

INEC has confirmed that governorship elections will be held in 28 states in 2027, with Anambra, Bayelsa, Edo, Ekiti, Imo, Kogi, Ondo and Osun excluded because they operate on the off-cycle election schedule. The presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while governorship and State House of Assembly elections will hold on February 6, 2027.

Under Section 92 of the Electoral Act 2026, a presidential candidate may spend up to N10bn, while a governorship candidate is limited to N3bn. The limit for a senatorial candidate is N500m, while a House of Representatives candidate may spend up to N250m. A State House of Assembly candidate may spend up to N100m.

The law also limits individual donations to N500m for a single candidate. A candidate who knowingly exceeds the prescribed spending limit faces a fine equivalent to one per cent of the permitted expenditure limit, imprisonment for up to 12 months, or both.

The restriction means that although a presidential candidate can legally spend up to N10bn, no single individual can contribute more than N500m to the candidate. Similarly, a governorship candidate’s N3bn spending limit is six times the maximum amount that can be donated by one individual.

The presidential contest features incumbent President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, among other candidates. The field also includes PDP candidate Sandy Onor, African Action Congress candidate Omoyele Sowore, Peoples Redemption Party candidate Donald Duke, Social Democratic Party candidate Adewole Adebayo and Allied Peoples Movement candidate Seyi Makinde.

With 19 presidential candidates each allowed to spend up to N10bn, the presidential race alone has a theoretical campaign spending limit of N190bn. At the governorship level, the 127 candidates collectively have a maximum spending limit of N381bn.

However, civil society organisations have expressed concerns about the enforcement of the new limits, arguing that the effectiveness of the law will depend on INEC’s ability to monitor campaign expenditure and the willingness of political parties and candidates to comply.

The Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, said INEC could not enforce the rules alone, urging political parties, the media and other stakeholders to support efforts to ensure compliance with the law.

Similarly, the Executive Director of the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, Debo Adeniran, called for cooperation among INEC, the media, civil society organisations and anti-corruption agencies to monitor campaign expenditure. He said spending on advertisements, billboards, campaign venues and other activities could be tracked to determine compliance.

The Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, Andrew Mamedu, also supported campaign spending limits, saying they were necessary to prevent wealthy candidates from effectively buying political positions and creating an uneven playing field. He called for stronger sanctions and better mechanisms for tracking political party finances.

Meanwhile, the National Broadcasting Commission has warned broadcasters, online publishers, bloggers and other participants in the information ecosystem against spreading misinformation, hate speech, inflammatory material and unverified political claims as campaigns for the 2027 elections begin.

The NBC directed broadcasters to ensure fair, balanced and equitable political coverage and warned against using their platforms to promote or suppress particular candidates or political parties. It also cautioned against presenting personal political views, unverified allegations or claims as facts.

The commission further warned against broadcasting unofficial election results or projections, stressing that election results and declarations of winners should only be broadcast as announced by duly authorised electoral officers. It said monitoring of political broadcasts would be intensified throughout the electioneering period.