The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Biodun Oyebanji, winner of the 2026 Ekiti State governorship election.
Oyebanji secured a landslide victory after polling a total of 319,224 votes to defeat his closest rival, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Dr. Wole Oluyede.
The election, which was conducted across the 16 local government areas of the state, was marred by irregularities and massive vote buying, which was widely condemned by observers.
According to the official results announced by the electoral umpire, Oluyede garnered 40,543 votes, while the governorship candidate of African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate, Dare Bejide, polled 12,872 votes coming a distant third.
The results were announced on Sunday morning by the Chief Returning Officer and Presiding Officer for the election, Professor Adenike Oladiji, who declared Oyebanji duly elected after satisfying the constitutional requirements for victory.
Announcing the final outcome of the election, Professor Oladiji said, “I, Professor Adenike Oladiji, hereby certify that I am the Returning Officer for the Ekiti State Governorship Election held on June 20, 2026, and that the election was conducted in compliance with the provisions of the law.
“Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress, having satisfied the requirements of the law and scored the highest number of valid votes cast, is hereby declared the winner and returned elected.”
