Campaign spending explodes as Reps double presidential limit to ₦10bn

By Ademola Adekusibe
19th December 2025

The House of Representatives has approved an upward review of campaign spending limits for candidates contesting elective offices across the country.

Under the new limits, presidential candidates can now spend up to ₦10 billion, up from ₦5 billion, while governorship candidates’ spending ceiling was increased from ₦1 billion to ₦3 billion.

For the National Assembly, senatorial candidates will now be allowed to spend ₦500 million, compared to the previous ₦100 million, while candidates for the House of Representatives can spend up to ₦250 million, an increase from ₦70 million.

At the state and local government levels, the spending limit for State House of Assembly candidates was raised from ₦30 million to ₦100 million. The same increase applies to Local Government chairmanship candidates, whose ceiling was also raised from ₦30 million to ₦100 million. Councillorship candidates will now be allowed to spend ₦10 million, up from ₦5 million.

The lawmakers also approved a cap on individual and corporate donations, limiting contributions to ₦500 million per candidate.

The amendments form part of ongoing electoral reforms aimed at updating campaign finance regulations ahead of future elections.