The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday, June 19th, 2026, declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and incumbent Governor Biodun Oyebanji as the winner of the governorship election held in Ekiti State on Saturday. Oyebanji secured a second term in office with a total of 319,224 votes, defeating his closest rival, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Wole Oluyede, who polled 40,543 votes.
Official Announcement and Results
INEC's Chief Returning Officer, Adenike Oladiji, who is also the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, announced the results in Ado-Ekiti on Sunday. According to Oladiji, Oyebanji met all constitutional and electoral requirements, and was declared duly elected. The results from the 16 local government areas of the state showed APC leading with 319,224 votes, followed by PDP with 40,543 votes, and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Oluwadare Bejide, who scored 12,872 votes.
Oyebanji's Reaction and Pledge
Reacting to his re-election, Governor Biodun Oyebanji described it as a renewed call to service. He thanked the people of Ekiti State for trusting his administration and acknowledged the greater responsibilities that come with the victory. "I have a proper understanding of the responsibility that this victory has placed on my shoulders. It is a responsibility of service, service to the people of Ekiti State," Oyebanji said.
He assured residents that his administration would continue to serve with courage, compassion, humility, and the fear of God. Oyebanji emphasized that the government already has a clearly defined development agenda and will faithfully implement it while remaining open to new ideas and emerging priorities. "We have a development guide, and we will continue to faithfully implement that plan. At the same time, if there are new issues or areas that require attention, we will review them and ensure they are accommodated. Our focus remains the comprehensive implementation of our development agenda for the benefit of all Ekiti people," he added.
Context and Significance
The election, held on June 18, 2026, saw a decisive victory for the APC, with Oyebanji securing over 78% of the total votes cast. The PDP candidate, Wole Oluyede, managed only 40,543 votes, a significant margin of defeat. The ADC candidate trailed with 12,872 votes. This victory marks Oyebanji's second term as governor of Ekiti State, reflecting the electorate's confidence in his leadership and development agenda.
INEC's declaration was based on the collated results from all local government areas, confirming that Oyebanji satisfied all constitutional and electoral requirements. The commission's Chief Returning Officer, Adenike Oladiji, stated that the election was conducted in accordance with the law and that Oyebanji was duly elected.
