Nigeria’s Democracy at Risk as Reps Raise Campaign Spending Limits — Political Scientist Warns
A senior political scientist has raised concerns that Nigeria’s democratic space could tilt even further towards the wealthy following the House of Representatives’ approval of significantly higher campaign spending limits for candidates contesting elective positions.
PulseNets learnt that Professor Murtala Muhammad of Northwest University, Kano, expressed the warning while reacting to the latest amendments to the Electoral Act, describing the changes as a shift that could prioritise financial muscle over ideas, credibility and public confidence.
Speaking exclusively to PulseNets, the academic acknowledged that the provision for real-time electronic transmission of election results represents progress, but stressed that it is largely eclipsed by what he termed “a troubling restructuring of campaign finance rules” that may widen political inequality and weaken democratic checks.
The concerns follow the passage of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2025 by the House of Representatives after a clause-by-clause review of a report submitted by the House Committee on Electoral Matters, chaired by Adebayo Balogun.
Under the amended framework, PulseNets obtained that the spending ceiling for presidential candidates has been doubled from ₦5 billion to ₦10 billion, while governorship candidates are now permitted to spend up to ₦3 billion, up from ₦1 billion.
Campaign expenditure limits were also adjusted across other elective offices. Senatorial candidates can now deploy as much as ₦500 million, compared to the former ₦100 million. Aspirants to the House of Representatives have their cap raised from ₦70 million to ₦250 million, while state assembly candidates can spend up to ₦100 million instead of ₦30 million. Chairmanship candidates are now allowed ₦60 million, up from ₦30 million, and councillorship candidates have seen their limit increase from ₦5 million to ₦10 million.
In addition, the House approved a provision restricting individual or corporate donations to a maximum of ₦500 million per candidate. It also passed an amendment mandating the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to transmit election results electronically in real time.
However, Professor Muhammad cautioned that the expanded spending thresholds could entrench wealth as the primary gateway to political power in a country already grappling with deep socio-economic disparities.
“With these limits, ordinary citizens, grassroots organisers, women and young people without access to vast financial resources are effectively locked out,” he told PulseNets.
“Politics then becomes a preserve of the rich and their backers, not a forum for inclusive representation.”
He warned that the amendments could hasten Nigeria’s slide from participatory democracy towards what he described as “a money-driven system where financial power determines who wins and who matters.”
“Once elections are decided largely by money, loyalty shifts from voters to financiers,” he explained.
“Public officials begin to serve donors rather than citizens, and that erodes confidence in governance.”
The political scientist also expressed concern that higher spending limits would reinforce what he described as an “investment mentality” in politics, where candidates perceive public office as an avenue to recoup campaign costs.
“That mindset fuels corruption,” he said, pointing to risks such as inflated contracts, patronage networks, rent-seeking and abuse of public funds.
“Service to the public becomes secondary to profit.”
While acknowledging the ₦500 million donation cap, Professor Muhammad told PulseNets that the overall scale of permissible spending still grants wealthy individuals and organised interests disproportionate influence over policymaking, appointments and governance outcomes.
He further warned that excessive money in politics could weaken electoral integrity by encouraging vote-buying and transactional politics, particularly in areas where enforcement of campaign finance regulations remains weak.
“Campaigns stop being about issues, and voters become targets for inducement,” he said.
“That damages participation, trust and the credibility of election results.”
Also Read: 2025 Bloodbath: How Terror Attacks, Banditry, and Insurgency Killed Over 2,200 Nigerians Nationwide
According to him, the revised regime also advantages incumbents and dominant political parties with access to state resources and extensive donor networks, making it increasingly difficult for reform-oriented candidates and emerging parties to compete fairly.
Without robust transparency measures, enforcement mechanisms and penalties, he warned that the amendments could undermine INEC’s authority, weaken institutional trust and ultimately threaten the foundations of Nigeria’s democratic project.
