Eligible voters across Ekiti State will on Saturday, June 20, 2026, decide whether to grant incumbent Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC) a second term or hand power to a rival candidate. Oyebanji, who assumed office on October 16, 2022, is seeking a second term against 13 other governorship candidates. Legit.ng highlights 12 key facts about the off-cycle governorship election in Ekiti State, based on Channels Television report.
Key Facts About the Election
- 14 political parties will participate in the Ekiti State gubernatorial election.
- A total of 1,059,360 voters are registered in the state.
- 1,028,929 (97.13%) have collected their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs), while 30,431 (2.87%) remain uncollected.
- Three main contenders: Biodun Oyebanji (APC), Dr. Wole Oluyede (PDP), and Dare Bejide (ADC).
- The election will be conducted across 16 Local Government Areas and 177 wards.
- Voting takes place in 2,445 polling units across the state.
- Four female deputy governorship candidates will feature: from ADP, APC, APM, and PRP.
- Candidates’ ages range from 35 to 68, with the oldest candidate being a woman.
Rotation Debate and Voting Hours
Groups from Ekiti South Senatorial District argue that power has largely alternated between the North and Central senatorial districts since Ekiti State was created in 1996. Voting begins at 8:30 am and closes at 2:30 pm on election day. Any voter already in the queue by 2:30 pm will still be allowed to vote. After voting concludes, results will be collated across all polling units before INEC officially announces the winner.
Analyst Predicts APC Victory
Political analyst Donald Okwuosa predicted that Governor Oyebanji will win re-election, citing incumbency, sentiment, and APC stronghold as key reasons. He noted that APC's grip on power fuels expectations for a decisive win ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
