Ekiti Governorship Election 2026: Oyebanji Wins Second Term

Ekiti governorship election result: Governor Biodun Oyebanji of APC wins second term, defeating PDP’s Oluyede and ADC’s Bejide in 2026 poll.

Governor Biodun Oyebanji declared winner of Ekiti governorship election 2026 after INEC announces APC victory

Governor Biodun Oyebanji will serve another four years in Ekiti State.

The All Progressives Congress candidate won the June 20, 2026 governorship election, with the Independent National Electoral Commission confirming his victory after collation of results across 16 local government areas.

Oyebanji showed early strength at his own polling unit. In PU 03, Ward 06, Ekiti West LGA, he polled 326 votes for the APC. The other parties recorded only 4 votes combined.

The race drew 14 candidates in total. But analysts pointed to three main contenders: Oyebanji of APC, Dr. Wole Oluyede of the Peoples Democratic Party, and Ambassador Dare Bejide of the African Democratic Congress.

Bejide lost his own polling unit and ward. In PU 004, Ward 2, Ekiti South-West LGA, Oyebanji secured 140 votes while the ADC candidate managed 37 votes. PDP recorded 2 votes in the same unit.

Voter turnout covered 2,445 polling units with about 1.02 million registered voters in the state. INEC uploaded 36% of results to its IReV portal shortly after voting ended.

Political observers noted that Oyebanji’s first term performance shaped the outcome. The election result is expected to set the tone for Ekiti politics ahead of 2027.

With the declaration, Oyebanji becomes one of the few Ekiti governors to win re-election. He was first sworn in on October 16, 2022. The APC victory also drew congratulations from party leaders who described it as a sign of growing support for the ruling party.

INEC officials said the process followed the new electoral guidelines. Security agencies were deployed across voting centers to maintain order during the exercise.

Residents across Ado-Ekiti, Ikole, Ijero, and other LGAs turned out to vote. Results from several polling units showed APC maintaining leads, while PDP and ADC pulled scattered wins in their strongholds.

For Ekiti people, the focus now shifts to governance. The governor has pledged to continue development projects and engage all stakeholders regardless of party lines.