Ekiti Governorship Election 2026: Oyebanji Wins Second Term as APC Sweeps All 16 LGAs

Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been declared winner of the 2026 Ekiti State governorship election, polling 319,224 votes to secure a historic back-to-back term —  becoming the first governor since Ekiti State's creation in 1996 to win consecutive elected terms in office.

The numbers

Professor Adenike Oladiji, INEC's Chief Returning Officer, announced the results in the early hours of Sunday, confirming Oyebanji defeated PDP's Dr. Wole Oluyede, who polled 40,543 votes, and ADC's Dare Bejide, who came third with 12,872 votes. The APC swept all 16 local government areas outright — including Efon, the PDP candidate's own home turf, where Oyebanji still won convincingly despite PDP managing a rare second-place finish there. Out of 375,777 valid votes cast, Oyebanji's 84.95% vote share marks a dramatic jump from his 53.16% showing in the 2022 election, when he faced tougher, more established rivals.

Why this victory stands out

Part of what made this landslide possible was an unusual political alignment: every living former civilian governor of Ekiti State — including Adeniyi Adebayo, Ayo Fayose, and Kayode Fayemi — publicly united behind Oyebanji's re-election bid, alongside former governor Segun Oni, who defected to the APC in January and campaigned directly alongside him. That kind of cross-factional consensus is rare in Nigerian state politics and significantly widened Oyebanji's coalition beyond his usual base.

The controversy

Despite the scale of the win, the election wasn't free of criticism. Both the PDP and ADC candidates rejected the outcome, alleging irregularities, intimidation, and vote-buying influenced the result. Election observer group Yiaga Africa raised separate concerns about inconsistencies in INEC's candidate materials, noting that court rulings and late administrative changes after INEC's initial January candidate list may have caused confusion during voting and collation. Notably, the police commissioner overseeing the election said no formal vote-buying complaints were filed with his agency, even as monitoring groups reported new, less visible tactics replacing the traditional handing-over of cash at polling units. Oyebanji himself dismissed the allegations, telling journalists that anyone making such claims should be prepared to substantiate them with evidence.

Turnout tells its own story

Despite the record-breaking margin, turnout remained low by raw numbers — fewer than 4 in 10 of Ekiti's nearly 988,000 registered voters were even accredited on election day, a pattern that has become common in Nigerian state elections held outside the general election cycle, and one that raises its own questions about how representative landslide results like this one truly are.

What's next

Speaking after his declaration, Oyebanji struck a tone of humility mixed with resolve, acknowledging the weight of the mandate given to him and pledging to govern with courage, compassion, and accountability over the next four years. With his second term now secured and his opposition considerably weaker on paper than in 2022, the real test for Oyebanji will be whether his administration can convert this overwhelming political mandate into visible development and improved welfare for ordinary Ekiti residents — the challenge every newly re-elected administration faces, and the one voters will be watching most closely.

Why Oyebanji's Victory Matters

Governor Biodun Oyebanji's victory is significant because it gives him a fresh mandate to continue his administration's policies and development programmes in Ekiti State. Winning in all 16 local government areas also demonstrated broad electoral support across the state, strengthening his political position for another term in office. 

Key Priorities for the New Administration

Following his victory, attention is expected to shift from the election to governance. Residents and stakeholders will be looking forward to the implementation of policies aimed at improving infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture, youth empowerment, and economic development across Ekiti State. The governor has also pledged to continue delivering compassionate and inclusive governance. 

Reaction After the Election

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) described the election process as completed in accordance with the law after the final results were announced. Political observers have noted that attention will now focus on post-election unity and fulfilling campaign promises made to the people of Ekiti State. 

Final Thoughts

The 2026 Ekiti governorship election marks another important chapter in the state's democratic journey. With the election concluded, the focus now turns to governance, accountability, and delivering on promises made to the people. Many residents hope the next four years will bring continued development, improved public services, and greater economic opportunities across Ekiti State.