The House of Representatives has approved an upward review of campaign spending limits for candidates seeking elective offices in Nigeria, doubling the ceiling for presidential candidates from ₦5 billion to ₦10 billion ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The decision was taken at Thursday’s plenary following a clause-by-clause consideration of a report on proposed amendments to the Electoral Act 2022.

Under the approved amendments, lawmakers raised the maximum amount a presidential candidate may spend on election campaigns from the ₦5 billion stipulated in the existing law to ₦10 billion.

Spending limits for other elective offices were also significantly increased. The ceiling for governorship candidates was reviewed upwards from ₦1 billion to ₦3 billion, while senatorial candidates can now spend up to ₦500 million, compared to the previous ₦100 million limit.

For candidates seeking election into the House of Representatives, the campaign expenditure cap was increased from ₦70 million to ₦250 million.

At the state level, candidates contesting seats in state houses of assembly will now be permitted to spend up to ₦100 million, up from the former ₦30 million ceiling.

The House also approved higher spending limits for local government elections. Under the amendment, chairmanship candidates may now spend a maximum of ₦100 million, compared to ₦30 million previously, while the cap for councillorship candidates was raised from ₦5 million to ₦10 million.

In addition to revising expenditure ceilings, lawmakers approved a substantial increase in the maximum amount an individual or organisation may donate to a candidate, raising the donation cap from ₦50 million to ₦500 million.

The amendments form part of ongoing legislative efforts to review Nigeria’s electoral framework ahead of the 2027 polls.

Earlier in the week, the House also approved a separate proposal mandating the real-time electronic transmission of election results, underscoring a broader push for electoral reforms.

The proposed amendments to the Electoral Act 2022 will only take effect after concurrence by the Senate and assent by the President.