The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially declared Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the 2026 Ekiti State governorship election.
The declaration was made in the early hours of Sunday by the Returning Officer for the election, Professor Adenike Oladiji, Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology.
Oyebanji Secures Landslide Victory
According to the official results announced by INEC, Governor Oyebanji polled 319,224 votes to emerge victorious in the election conducted across Ekiti State's 16 local government areas.
His closest challenger, Oluwole Oluyede of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), secured 40,543 votes, while Dare Bejide of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) received 12,872 votes.
Official Election Results
- APC (Biodun Oyebanji): 319,224 votes
- PDP (Oluwole Oluyede): 40,543 votes
- ADC (Dare Bejide): 12,872 votes
INEC further disclosed that:
- Accredited Voters: 384,940
- Valid Votes: 375,777
- Rejected Votes: 6,332
- Total Votes Cast: 382,109
Election Conducted Across 2,445 Polling Units
The governorship election was held across 2,445 polling units in Ekiti State.
INEC reported that voting commenced successfully in all polling units, with 92.31 percent opening before 8:30 a.m., while the remaining units experienced minor delays but commenced voting before 10:30 a.m.
Election officials also uploaded results from polling units to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) after counting was completed.
BVAS Challenges Reported in Some Areas
Despite the generally peaceful atmosphere recorded during the election, there were reports of technical difficulties involving the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) in some locations.
PDP candidate Oluwole Oluyede alleged that accreditation challenges affected voting at parts of Ikere Local Government Area.
He claimed some voters were unable to cast their ballots due to technical issues and also raised concerns about alleged voter intimidation.
Several voters at affected polling units reportedly expressed frustration over delays caused by the accreditation process.
ADC Candidate Raises Concerns
The ADC candidate, Dare Bejide, also alleged irregularities during the election.
However, Governor Oyebanji dismissed the claims and urged anyone making allegations to provide credible evidence.
Speaking after casting his vote, the governor described the electoral process as satisfactory and encouraged citizens to participate peacefully.
Security Agencies Maintain Order
Security agencies deployed across the state received commendation for maintaining peace during the exercise.
The Commissioner of Police overseeing election security, CP Abayomi Shogunle, stated that no official reports of vote-buying were received during the poll.
Security personnel were also called upon to restore order in a few polling units where disagreements arose during vote sorting and counting.
Election Observers Commend Peaceful Process
Several election observers praised the peaceful conduct of the election and the level of voter participation recorded across the state.
First Vice President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Sebastian Anyia, described the process as generally orderly and peaceful.
Similarly, the Nigerian Women Trust Fund commended the resilience and determination shown by female voters who turned out in large numbers despite challenges.
Yiaga Africa Raises Procedural Concerns
Election monitoring group Yiaga Africa expressed concerns over alleged inconsistencies involving ballot papers, result sheets, and candidate listings.
The organisation warned that discrepancies could potentially create confusion during collation and result documentation.
In response, INEC explained that additional political parties were included on ballot papers due to legal developments and court rulings that occurred after the initial publication of candidate lists.
The commission maintained that necessary measures were taken to ensure the integrity of the electoral process.
Oyebanji Secures Another Term
With the announcement of the final results, Governor Biodun Oyebanji has secured a fresh mandate to continue leading Ekiti State.
The outcome concludes a closely watched governorship contest that attracted significant public interest and widespread participation from voters across the state.
Political analysts believe the victory strengthens the APC's position in the South-West as preparations gradually begin for future electoral contests.
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