* Limits individual donations to N50 million

Chuks Okocha

The Electoral (Amendment) Act 2022 Bill 2010 passed by both Houses of the National Assembly increased the cap on the overall amount that a presidential candidate can spend in elections to N5 billion. The campaign spending limit in the revised amended bill is a significant increase from the billion naira previously planned.

The revised bill also stipulates that no individual should donate more than 50 million naira to a political party’s campaign funds. The amount was previously limited to N10 million.

According to a new Article 91(1) of the clean copy of the bill, which would be sent to President Muhammadu Buhari for approval, “election expenses shall not exceed the sum stipulated in paragraphs (2)(3)(4) ( 5 ) (6) and (7).

“(2) The maximum election expenses to be incurred by a presidential candidate shall not exceed N5,000,000,000.00.
“(3) The maximum amount of election expenses to be incurred by a candidate in respect of the election of a gubernatorial office shall not exceed N1,000,000,000.00.

“(4) The maximum amount of election expenses to be incurred by a candidate for a seat in the Senate and House of Representatives shall not exceed N100,000,000.00 and N70,000,000.00, respectively.

“(5) In the event of an election to the State Assembly, the maximum amount of election expenses to be incurred by a candidate shall not exceed N30,000,000.00.

“(6) In the case of an election for the presidency of a regional council, the maximum amount of election expenses to be incurred by a candidate shall not exceed N30,000,000.00.”

In the new revised bill, election expenses for candidates for Governor, Senators and the House of Representatives have been increased from N200 million to N1 billion; 40 million naira to 100 million naira; and N20 million to N70 million, respectively.

Former section 91(1) stated: “Election expenses shall not exceed the sum stipulated in subsections (2) to (7) of this section.
“(2) The maximum election expenses to be incurred by a presidential candidate is N1,000,000,000.00.

“(3) The maximum election expenses to be incurred by a candidate for a gubernatorial election is N200,000,000.00.

“(4) The maximum amount of election expenses to be incurred by a candidate for seats in the Senate and House of Representatives is N40,000,000.00 and N20,000,000.00, respectively.

“(5) In the event of an election to the State Assembly, the maximum amount of election expenses to be incurred is N10,000,000.00.

“(6) In the case of an election for the presidency of a regional council, the maximum amount of the expressed election to be incurred is ten million naira N10,000,000.00

“(7) In the event of the election of a councilor to a regional council, the maximum amount of election expenses to be incurred is one million naira (N1,000,000.00).”

The National Assembly has also increased the amount an individual can donate to a presidential candidate from 1 million naira to 50 million naira.
Specifically, Section 91(9) of the old bill reads: “No individual or other entity shall donate more than N1,000,000.00 to any candidate.”
On the other hand, Section 91(9) of the new Bill reads: “No individual or other entity shall donate to a candidate more than N50,000,000.00”.