Biodun Oyebanji Wins Re-election in Ekiti State
Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been re-elected as governor of Ekiti State, winning a landslide victory in the June 20, 2026 governorship election. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Oyebanji the winner on Sunday, June 21, after he secured 319,224 votes, defeating his closest rival, Wole Oluyede of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who garnered 40,543 votes. Dare Bejide of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) came third with 12,872 votes, while the Labour Party (LP) and other parties trailed far behind.
Historic First for Ekiti Incumbent
Oyebanji's victory marks a historic milestone as he becomes the first incumbent governor in Ekiti State to secure re-election. The returning officer, Professor Adenike Oladiji, announced the final result at the collation centre in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, on Sunday morning. According to INEC, total registered voters for the election stood at 988,251, with 383,940 accredited voters. The APC candidate won in all 16 local government areas (LGAs), demonstrating broad-based support across the state.
Full Results by Local Government Area
INEC released detailed results for each LGA, showing Oyebanji's dominance. In Ijero LGA, Oyebanji polled 25,506 votes against PDP's 2,479 and ADC's 2,026. In Efun LGA, APC got 8,742 votes, PDP 2,051, and ADC 201. Emure LGA saw APC with 14,325 votes, PDP 851, and ADC 732. Ikere LGA recorded APC 11,116, PDP 9,892, and ADC 245. Ido/Osi LGA had APC 17,901, PDP 1,449, and ADC 561. Ekiti South West LGA gave APC 14,705, PDP 1,800, and ADC 1,076. Ado Ekiti LGA, the state capital, saw APC 38,026, PDP 3,817, and ADC 1,054. Ekiti West LGA: APC 28,258, PDP 3,644, ADC 674. Ise Orun LGA: APC 12,908, PDP 1,627, ADC 365. Ilejemeje LGA: APC 8,984, PDP 1,243, ADC 579. Moba LGA: APC 20,500, PDP 1,572, ADC 994. Oye LGA: APC 18,975, PDP 2,891, ADC 998. Ikole LGA: APC 26,508, PDP 750, ADC 812. Aiyekire LGA: APC 17,133, PDP 1,563, ADC 314. Ekiti East LGA: APC 26,359, PDP 2,795, ADC 1,730. Irepodun/Ifelodun LGA: APC 29,278, PDP 2,119, ADC 511. The Labour Party received 276 votes overall, with ADP securing 1,269 votes.
Allegations of Vote Buying
In the lead-up to the election, a PDP chieftain, Pastor Samson Omoyajowo, alleged that APC stalwarts distributed between N15,000 and N20,000 to influence voters. Omoyajowo claimed that the PDP gave no inducements yet still recorded a wide margin in his polling unit. INEC has not officially commented on the allegations, but the results were widely accepted as credible by observers.
Significance of the 2026 Election
The Ekiti governorship election 2026 was closely watched as a test of the APC's popularity in the South-West region. Oyebanji's victory consolidates the party's hold on the state and sets the stage for future political contests. The election also saw a low turnout, with only 38.9% of registered voters accredited, reflecting voter apathy or logistical challenges. Despite this, Oyebanji's margin of victory—over 278,000 votes—underscores his strong mandate.
