Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been re-elected as Governor of Ekiti State following a landslide victory in the 2026 governorship election, further consolidating the ruling party’s dominance across the state.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officially declared Oyebanji winner in the early hours of Sunday after the collation of results from all 16 local government areas of the state. The Returning Officer for the election and Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Prof. Adenike Oladiji, announced that the incumbent governor polled a commanding 319,224 votes, defeating his closest challenger, Olumayokun Oluyede of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who garnered 40,533 votes. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Dare Bejide, came a distant third with 12,872 votes.
Declaring the result at the State Collation Centre in Ado-Ekiti, Prof. Oladiji stated that Oyebanji had fulfilled all constitutional requirements and was therefore duly returned elected for a second term in office.
“Therefore, I, Adenike Oladiji, the Returning Officer for the 2026 Ekiti State Governorship Election, hereby declare that Oyebanji Abiodun Abayomi, having satisfied the requirements of the law and scored the highest number of valid votes cast, is returned elected and stands re-elected as Governor of Ekiti State,” she announced.
The election witnessed significant voter participation, with INEC disclosing that out of the state’s 988,251 registered voters, 384,940 were accredited to vote. A total of 382,109 votes were cast, while 375,777 were declared valid after collation.
The overwhelming victory marks a significant political milestone for Oyebanji, who became one of the few governors in the state’s democratic history to secure re-election with such a wide margin. The outcome also reinforces the APC’s firm grip on Ekiti politics, as the party won all 16 local government areas in a clean sweep against opposition parties.
A breakdown of the results showed that APC recorded impressive victories across major voting blocs, including Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, where Oyebanji secured 38,026 votes against PDP’s 3,817 votes and ADC’s 1,054 votes. The governor also dominated in Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government with 29,278 votes, Ekiti West with 28,258 votes, Ikole with 26,508 votes, and Ekiti East with 26,359 votes.
One of the most striking outcomes of the election was recorded in Ikere Local Government Area, the home base of PDP candidate Olumayokun Oluyede. Despite enjoying local support, the opposition candidate was unable to deliver his council area, losing to the incumbent governor. Oyebanji polled 11,116 votes in the local government, while Oluyede secured 9,872 votes, highlighting the APC’s growing acceptance even in opposition strongholds.
Political observers described the result as a reflection of widespread public approval of Oyebanji’s administration, particularly in the areas of infrastructure development, education, agriculture, healthcare, and workers’ welfare. Since assuming office in 2022, the governor has consistently enjoyed bipartisan commendations for his inclusive governance style and collaborative approach to leadership.
The election was generally peaceful across the state, with security agencies maintaining a visible presence at polling units and collation centres. Election observers also noted the orderly conduct of voters and the timely transmission of results from various polling units.
Reacting to the outcome, APC supporters erupted in jubilation across several communities, including Ado-Ekiti, Ikole, Ikere, Ijero, and Oye, celebrating what they described as a vote of confidence in the governor’s performance over the last four years.
For the opposition PDP and ADC, the outcome represents another major electoral setback in their bid to reclaim political relevance in the state. The PDP, which once controlled the state’s political structure, struggled to gain momentum throughout the campaign season despite fielding a candidate with deep roots in Ekiti politics.
With his renewed mandate secured, Governor Oyebanji is expected to intensify efforts toward implementing his administration’s development agenda while consolidating gains recorded during his first term. Residents and stakeholders will be watching closely to see how the governor translates the overwhelming electoral endorsement into accelerated socio-economic growth and improved living standards for the people of Ekiti State.
