Wetin govnorship election candidates fit do and no fit do as campaign start

As campaigns for govnorship elections dey start on Wednesday, 9 September, e clear say all di tins wey fit attract public interest to candidates go dey used to create visibility and keep voters interested ahead of di 2027 general elections for Nigeria.

As govnorship campaigns dey start, candidates and political parties go intensify rallies, media appearances, advertising and grassroots mobilisation ahead of di 2027 elections. But di campaign period get rules wey candidates gatz follow.

Di rules wey dey govern political campaigns under Nigeria Electoral Act 2026 set election expenses for govnorship candidate at 3 billion naira. But di question be wetin di law tok wen candidates spend more dan di 3 billion? And wetin candidate fit do and no fit do for dia campaign?

How much govnorship candidate fit spend and wetin be di penalty for breaking dis spending law?

Under Section 92(3) of 2026 Electoral Act, di law say govnorship candidate no fit incur more dan ₦3 billion for election expenses.

But one important distinction dey: di 3 billion naira na di candidate election expense limit. E no be di amount one pesin fit donate to di candidate.

Section 92(8) say individual or oda entity no fit donate more dan 500 million naira to govnorship candidate.

So, for example, if pesin give candidate 600 million naira, di pesin don pass di donation limit by 100 million naira.

Under Section 92(10), di pesin fit face fine wey be five times di amount wey e take pass di limit. For example na 500 million naira go be di fine if pesin pass di limit of donation wit 100 million naira.

But wetin go happun if candidate spend more dan 3 billion naira?

Section 92(9) say candidate wey know say e go against di section, if dem convict am, e fit face:

So, govnorship candidate fit spend up to 3 billion naira, but if e pass dat limit, e fit attract 30m fine, up to 12 months imprisonment, or both.

What about di political parties?

Section 93 say di law dey treat election expenses of political parties separately from candidate spending.

Di Commission, in consultation wit political parties, go determine di amount political parties fit spend on managing or conducting election.

Political parties gatz also submit separate audited returns to di Commission within six months afta di election.

Dose returns must show how much di party spend, wetin dem spend di money on, and di commercial value of goods and services wey dem receive for election purposes.

Section 93(8) say di audited returns wey dem make available for public inspection must include di names, addresses, occupations and amounts wey contributors give to party.

Section 93(6) also require political parties to publish dia returns for at least two national newspapers and on dia official websites.

While for anonymous donations, Section 94 say political parties no fit accept or keep anonymous monetary or oda contributions, gifts or property.

Parties gatz keep records of contributions and assets, wey include di name and address of anybodi or any entity wey contribute more dan 100 million naira.

Political party wey pass election expenses beyond di limit wey subsection (2) set commit offence and dem fit convict di party to maximum fine of ₦10,000,000 and forfeiture to di Commission, of di amount wey di expenses exceed di limit wey di Commission bin set.

Wetin candidate fit do for di campaign, and wetin dem no fit do

Di Act say registered political parties, aspirants and candidates no fit dey prevented from holding rallies, processions or meetings for dia constitutional political purposes. Di police and oda security agencies get responsibility to provide adequate security for such events.

But campaign or slogan no fit contain abusive language wey fit hurt religious, ethnic, tribal or sectional feelings.

Di Act also prohibit abusive, intemperate, slanderous or provocative language, including insinuations wey dem design or wey fit provoke violent reactions.

For example, candidate fit attack im opponent policies, record and political ideas, but e no fit turn di campaign into language wey fit cause ethnic, religious or sectional tensions.

Dis na some oda tins wey govnorship candidates fit and no fit do during campaigns: