Oyebanji Re-Elected as Ekiti Governor After Electoral Body Announces Final Results
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the 2026 governorship election in Ekiti State.
The announcement was made by the Returning Officer, Adenike Oladiji, in the early hours of Sunday following the conclusion of collation across the state. According to the official results, Oyebanji secured 319,224 votes, emerging ahead of other candidates in the election held across the 16 local government areas.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Oluwole Oluyede, came second with 40,543 votes, while Dare Bejide of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) recorded 12,872 votes.
INEC stated that 384,940 voters were accredited for the election, with 375,777 valid votes cast. A total of 6,332 ballots were rejected, bringing the overall number of votes cast to 382,109.
Voting took place on Saturday in all designated polling units, with most areas experiencing a generally peaceful process. However, there were reports of technical issues involving the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and allegations of irregularities in some locations.
According to INEC, all 2,445 polling units were opened, with the majority commencing operations on schedule, while a smaller number experienced delays before voting began later in the morning. The commission also proceeded with the upload of results to its online portal after counting concluded in several areas.
Some voters and political actors raised concerns over accreditation challenges and alleged voter intimidation in certain polling units. Despite these complaints, security agencies maintained order, and the election was largely conducted without major disruptions.
Election observers acknowledged the orderly conduct of the process and voter participation, although some highlighted inconsistencies in election materials and documentation. Calls were made for clearer communication from INEC to address these concerns.
Security arrangements for the election involved multiple agencies, with restrictions placed on movement during voting hours and measures implemented to prevent electoral malpractice.
