Regulating the Pre-Campaign Finance Gap: Nomination Fees, Party Primaries, and Electoral Transparency in Nigeria

Nigeria’s 2026 Electoral Act introduced important reforms to campaign finance regulation, including revised spending ceilings, disclosure duties, and penalties for non-compliance. However, the Act leaves largely untouched the financing of party primaries, nomination fees, and consensus arrangements, even though these processes determine who ultimately appears on the ballot. This article examines that disclosure gap in the context of Nigeria’s 2026/2027 primary cycle and assesses its implications for political participation, electoral transparency, and anti-corruption accountability. It argues that nomination-form revenue constitutes a significant and opaque source of party finance and that consensus adoption, while lawful, may further weaken transparency where the financial conditions surrounding aspirant withdrawal or endorsement remain undisclosed. The article reviews the statutory framework, evaluates possible constitutional, regional, and administrative-law pathways for reform, and situates the issue within broader concerns about civic space and whistleblower protection. It concludes that closing the disclosure gap requires both regulatory interpretation by the Independent National Electoral Commission and sustained civil society advocacy grounded in careful legal strategy.