Economy
Tinubu Signs Electoral Amendment Bill, Presidential Campaign Threshold Doubled To N10bn
Tinubu Signs Electoral Amendment Bill, Presidential Campaign Threshold Doubled To N10bn
Tinubu signs electoral amendment bill, Presidential campaign threshold doubled to N10bn, guber limit now N3bn… inside 2026 Electoral Act. Tinubu signs electoral amendment bill on Feb 18, 2026
The national assembly has doubled the campaign spending limit for presidential candidates to N10 billion and increased the governorship ceiling to N3 billion in the Electoral Act 2026.
On February 17, the national assembly harmonised versions of the Electoral Bill 2026 passed by both chambers and transmitted same to President Bola Tinubu for assent ahead of the 2027 general election.
Tinubu signed the bill into law within 24 hours of its transmission, completing a two-year consultative process.
In a statement issued on Sunday by his directorate of media and public affairs, Opeyemi Bamidele, senate leader, disclosed the revisions while outlining key reforms introduced in the new electoral framework signed into law ahead of the 2027 general election.
Under the repealed Electoral Act, 2022, presidential candidates spend was capped at N5 billion, while governorship candidates were limited to N1 billion.
The 2026 law, however, raises the senate spending ceiling from N100 million to N500 million.
The limit for house of representatives candidates has been increased from N70 million to N250 million.
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For state house of assembly elections, the ceiling rises from N30 million to N100 million.
Area council chairmanship outlay has been reviewed upward from N30 million to N60 million, while councillorship candidates can now spend up to N10 million, up from N5 million.
Bamidele said the upward review under section 92(1-8) reflects prevailing economic realities and rising campaign costs, while retaining statutory limits to regulate election financing.
He added that enforcement provisions remain in place to sanction candidates who exceed the prescribed thresholds.
PENALTIES FOR RIGGING
The senate leader also said the Electoral Act 2026 introduced stricter penalties for electoral offences as part of broader reforms aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s electoral process.
Under section 125(1-2), he said, the legislation recommends two years’ imprisonment or a fine ranging between N500,000 and N2 million, or both, for offences such as vote buying, impersonation, and result manipulation.
He added that section 60(6) prescribes “a six-month imprisonment or a fine of N500,000 or both against any presiding officer, who willfully frustrates the electronic transmission of election result”.
“This provision is consistent with the public demands,” he added.
“It also stipulates another measure of consequence if any presiding officer refuses to electronically transmit the results from each polling unit to IREV.
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“We must equally understand that IREV is not a collation platform. It was designed to enhance transparency in our electoral process. An electronic collating system is a project that requires its own planning.”
Bamidele also cited section 74(1), which mandates a resident electoral commissioner (REC) to release certified true copies of documents within 24 hours after payment, with failure attracting a minimum of two years’ imprisonment without an option of fine.
He said section 72(2) provides that a certified true copy of a court order “shall be sufficient for the purpose of swearing-in any candidate declared as the winner of an election by the court where the INEC fails, refuses, or neglects to issue the certificate of return”.
The senate leader said the new framework also mandates the compulsory use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) under section 47 and electronic transmission of results to the INEC result viewing portal (IReV) under section 60(3).
“The making of the new regime is a collective work that involves nearly all critical stakeholders,” he said.
President Tinubu
“The National Assembly worked with such different stakeholders as OAGF, CSOs, INEC and our development partners, among others, before we eventually completed the process.
“As we were making progress, the stakeholders too were making their input, and all the inputs were incorporated in the Act.
“In view of the time constraint we are facing now, I do not believe the Executive requires days or weeks to review it before assent, since we all contributed to it.
“Its outcome is not a unilateral effort of the parliament, but of Nigerians at large.”
Bamidele added that the Electoral Act, 2026, is designed to enhance electoral credibility, reduce disputes, and strengthen democratic governance in the country.
10th National assembly
amendments to the Electoral Act 2022
campaign spending limit in Nigeria’s elections
Electoral Act
Nigeria’s electoral process
Opeyemi Bamidele
penalties for electoral offences
Tax Laws Will Boost Opportunities, End Poverty, Says Tinubu
Mr Tinubu, who spoke at the commissioning of the 16-storey Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, assured Nigerians that the new reforms will deliver greater prosperity and inclusivity.
“On my inauguration day, I made a solemn pledge that we will move Nigerians from the dimness of uncertainty into the clear light of renewed hope. I committed to confronting structural weaknesses, restoring financial stability, and building an economy anchored in discipline, equity, and opportunity. Today, I stand before you to reaffirm that these words were not rhetoric; they were a covenant with the Nigerian people,” the president said.
Despite widespread criticism, especially from stakeholders, the Tinubu-led administration implemented the re-gazetted tax laws in January.
Mr Tinubu, who stated on Tuesday that the new tax system was designed to be people-centred and investment-friendly, explained that the laws were intended to liberate the economy from the constraints of archaic laws and make it more globally competitive.
While commending the Nigeria Revenue Service chairman, Zacch Adedeji, for his exceptional performance and the successful completion of the building, Mr Tinubu said no serious nation can achieve lasting prosperity on a weak and fragmented revenue system.
He added, “We are not gathered here merely to commission an edifice. We are here to mark a milestone in a larger national journey: the deliberate strengthening of our fiscal foundation and rebuilding of confidence in public institutions.
“No serious nation can achieve lasting prosperity on a weak and fragmented revenue system. No government can demand trust from its citizens when taxation is opaque, inefficient or unjust. That is why this administration took the bold decision to embark on far-reaching tax and fiscal reforms.”
The president further addressed concerns about the new tax reforms, assuring Nigerians of better performance by the revenue service.
President Tinubu
“The reforms are designed to simplify our system, eliminate distortions and create a fair, transparent and investment-friendly environment. Our direction is clear: to have a revenue system that rewards enterprise, supports growth, and ensures that every contribution to the national cause is matched by feasible value for the people.
“The early results are encouraging and fantastic. Mr Adedeji, thank you very much. We are witnessing improved fiscal stability, strength, stronger foreign reserves, a more efficient trade ecosystem and increased investor confidence in Nigeria’s economic direction,’’ Mr Tinubu said.
Peter Obi: Nigeria Collapsing, Divided Under Tinubu, May Drift into Anarchy If Re-Elected
Former presidential candidate Peter Obi says Nigeria is collapsing and divided under President Bola Tinubu, warning the country may drift into a more devastating situation if he is reelected in 2027.
“The country is collapsing, and if you allow it to go further, it would be worse,” Mr Obi said during the African Democratic Congress convention in Abuja on Tuesday. “We need to work as a united Nigeria for the sake of Nigeria. The country is so divided, so we need unity. The present government has ensured that we remain more divided. Our unity is important.”
Mr Obi, who decried the high poverty rate under Mr Tinubu, further accused the All Progressives Congress-led government of excessive borrowing.
He added, “If you check your indices, when the present government came into being, our poverty rate was 41.6% and 8 million people. Today, we are 63% and 140 million people. So they have almost doubled that.
“When this government came into being, we removed the petroleum subsidy to stop borrowing for services and use the money to develop the country. Today, we are about 200 trillion in debt. Worse still, this government owes contractors; no projects of 2025 have been funded. We have a huge debt and have borrowed more.”
The former Anambra government said the country may descend into disaster, stressing the need for sacrifices among Nigerians.
“We are heading to disaster. I used these figures to show you we are drifting. We all have to work hard because anarchy consumes everybody. We must now sacrifice for the sake of our children. If we don’t do anything, what is happening will take revenge on our children and us,” Mr Obi stated.
Peter Obi
The presidency could not be reached for comment on Mr Obi’s latest allegations.
About 141 million Nigerians were projected to fall into abject poverty in 2026, as Nigeria’s poverty rate was projected to rise exponentially to 62 per cent this year, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Nigeria Economic Outlook published in January.
The report revealed that the poverty rate, which stood at 59% in 2024, rose to 61% (139 million people) in 2025 and is expected to climb to 62% (141 million) in 2026.
PWAC: NNPC Academy’s Adekeye Headlines 2026 PENGASSAN Women Convention
We are delighted to announce that Folashade Adekeye, Director, NNPC Academy, will be a Special Guest at the PENGASSAN Women Annual Convention (PWAC) 2026.
With over 25 years of expertise in Strategic Human Resource Management and Human Capacity Development, Adekeye played a key role in the landmark transition to NNPC Limited under the Petroleum Industry Act (2021). She currently provides stellar leadership at the NNPC Academy, repositioning it as a strategic national and regional training hub.
NNPC
We are proud to see her excellence recognised on this important platform. Join her at the two-day convention, themed ‘The Dynamic Woman,’ on 15th and 16th April 2026 in Abuja, Nigeria, commencing at 10:00 AM daily.
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