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2027 Nigeria Elections: High Campaign Fees and Hurdles Loom for Candidates
🇳🇬 Nigeria /Elections & Politics

2027 Nigeria Elections: High Campaign Fees and Hurdles Loom for Candidates

From Vanguard · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Nigerian political parties and candidates face significant campaign hurdles for the 2027 general elections, including high permit fees for campaign materials.
  • Eight states have announced fees ranging from N20 million to N200 million for campaign billboards and posters, with more expected to follow.
  • The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has begun cleaning the voter register and anticipates up to 100 million voters, while campaigns officially commence today.

Candidates and political parties in Nigeria are gearing up for the 2027 general elections, but they face substantial obstacles, particularly concerning campaign finance. A significant hurdle is the imposition of hefty permit fees for campaign billboards, posters, and other outdoor materials, with eight states already announcing fees between N20 million and N200 million.

These fees are rapidly becoming a major source of internally generated revenue for the states. Abia State, for example, has set fees for presidential candidates at N200 million, governorship candidates at N150 million, senatorial candidates at N100 million, House of Representatives candidates at N50 million, and State House of Assembly candidates at N20 million. Kogi State has different rates, with presidential candidates facing N150 million, senatorial N50 million, House of Representatives N30 million, and State House of Assembly N5 million. Enugu State has a comprehensive N150 million fee, while Anambra, Bauchi, Ebonyi, Kano, and Oyo states have fees starting from N20 million upwards, depending on the office sought.

polls were not do-or-die

— President Bola TinubuPresident Tinubu's remarks at a peace accord ceremony for the 2027 general elections.

Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that campaigns for the presidential and National Assembly elections begin today, with governorship and state assembly campaigns starting September 9. The elections are scheduled for January 16 and February 6, 2027, respectively. INEC is preparing for a potential electorate of 100 million voters and plans to deploy 1.4 million ad hoc staff across 176,000 polling units. The commission has also begun the process of cleaning up the voter register.

President Bola Tinubu, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Mr. Peter Obi, and 22 other presidential candidates participated in a peace accord ceremony facilitated by the National Peace Committee and The Kukah Centre. During the event, Tinubu cautioned against AI-driven misinformation and divisive politics, while Obi urged voters to reject those who violate past agreements. The INEC chairman also highlighted the challenges the commission faces in the lead-up to the elections.

voters to reject violators of past accords.

— Mr. Peter ObiMr. Peter Obi's statement to voters at a peace accord ceremony for the 2027 general elections.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Vanguard in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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