Ekiti Decides: Oyebanji Secures Massive Re-Election Victory

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and incumbent, Biodun Oyebanji, the winner of the 2026 Ekiti State governorship election.

Oyebanji secured a landslide victory after polling 319,224 votes to defeat his closest rival, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Dr. Wole Oluyede.

According to the official results announced by the electoral umpire, Oluyede garnered 40,543 votes, while the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Dare Bejide, polled 12,872 votes, coming a distant third.

The results were announced on Sunday morning by the Chief Returning Officer and Presiding Officer for the election, Professor Adenike Oladiji, who declared Oyebanji duly elected after satisfying the constitutional requirements for victory.

Announcing the final outcome of the election, Professor Oladiji said:

“I, Professor Adenike Oladiji, hereby certify that I am the Returning Officer for the Ekiti State Governorship Election held on June 20, 2026, and that the election was conducted in compliance with the provisions of the law.

“Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress, having satisfied the requirements of the law and scored the highest number of valid votes cast, is hereby declared the winner and returned elected.”

The election, which was conducted across the 16 local government areas of the state, was marred by alleged irregularities and widespread vote-buying, which was widely condemned by observers.

During the election, the PDP candidate, Dr. Wole Oluyede, expressed dissatisfaction with developments at Ugele/Arokun Ward in Ikere Local Government Area.

Speaking to journalists after casting his vote at Polling Unit 006, he alleged that many voters were unable to vote because of problems associated with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).

He also alleged voter harassment and intimidation at the ward.

The candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dare Bejide, also alleged irregularities during the election.

However, Oyebanji rejected the allegations.

The governor told journalists after casting his vote at Polling Unit 003, Okelele, Ikogosi-Ekiti, in Ekiti West Local Government Area, that anyone making such allegations must substantiate them with evidence.

While alleged irregularities trailed the exercise, election observers, however, generally commended the conduct of the poll while raising concerns about certain procedural issues.

An observer and First Vice President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Sebastian Anyia, said the process remained peaceful and orderly, with voter turnout proving encouraging.

He expressed optimism that the smooth conduct witnessed during accreditation would be sustained throughout the state's 16 local government areas until the conclusion of the exercise.

Similarly, the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Women Trust Fund, Brenda Anugwom, praised the commitment shown by female voters.

However, election monitoring group Yiaga Africa raised concerns over what it described as discrepancies between ballot papers, result sheets, and INEC's published list of candidates.

But INEC explained that 19 parties were included on the ballot paper to avoid the cost of printing fresh ballot papers following court orders.

“Yiaga Africa is observing the Ekiti State governorship election, and our preliminary findings raise serious concerns about the consistency of the materials INEC has deployed.

“After INEC published its initial list of 12 candidates in January 2026, subsequent court rulings (notably on the PDP's candidacy) and late administrative changes altered party and candidate participation.

“Also, the public may not have fully received information about these changes.

“These inconsistencies might create confusion during voting and collation. Where result sheets include parties that are not on the ballot, presiding officers may record zero votes for parties that voters did not see.

“Conversely, where voters cast ballots for parties not reflected on the result sheet, such actions could create uncertainty in recording, reconciliation, and collation,” the organisation said in a statement signed by Aisha Abdullahi, Chair of the 2026 Ekiti Election Observation Mission, and Yiaga Africa Executive Director, Samson Itodo.

Yiaga Africa subsequently called on INEC to publicly clarify the final list of parties and candidates and provide written guidance to electoral officials handling collation and result documentation.

Following the victory, Oyebanji becomes the first Ekiti State governor to secure consecutive electoral victories in the state's 30-year history.