Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been declared the winner of the 2026 Ekiti State governorship election after securing a commanding victory across the state.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced that Oyebanji polled 319,224 votes to defeat his closest rivals in the keenly contested election held on Saturday, June 20, 2026.
According to the official results released by the electoral umpire, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Olusola Oluyede, came a distant second, while the candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kemi Bejide, finished third.
The outcome underscores the APC’s continued dominance in Ekiti State, with Governor Oyebanji recording victories in the majority of the local government areas and maintaining a substantial lead throughout the collation process.
The declaration was made by the Returning Officer for the election after the completion of results collation from all 16 local government areas of the state. The announcement was greeted with jubilation by APC supporters, who gathered at various locations across Ado-Ekiti and other parts of the state to celebrate the victory.
Speaking shortly after being declared winner, Oyebanji expressed gratitude to the people of Ekiti State for renewing their mandate and reaffirming confidence in his administration. He described the result as a victory for democracy and pledged to continue delivering on his campaign promises.
The governor also extended an olive branch to his opponents, urging all political stakeholders to unite in the interest of the state’s development. He assured residents that his second term would focus on consolidating ongoing projects and advancing economic growth, infrastructure development, education, healthcare, and job creation.
Meanwhile, party leaders and supporters have described the outcome as a reflection of public approval of Oyebanji’s performance in office. They noted that the governor’s grassroots engagement, infrastructural interventions, and governance style contributed significantly to the overwhelming support he received at the polls.
The election was monitored by security agencies, election observers, and civil society groups, with reports indicating that voting and collation were generally peaceful across most parts of the state.
With the declaration, Governor Oyebanji is set to begin another four-year term at the helm of affairs in Ekiti State, further strengthening the APC’s political hold on the South-West state.
