Breaking: INEC Declares Winner of Ekiti 2026 Gov'ship Election as PDP, Others Tackle Oyebanji
- Biodun Oyebanji was declared the winner of the 2026 Ekiti governorship election by INEC
- The APC candidate Oyebanji secured 319,224 votes, defeating PDP and ADC rivals
- Oyebanji dominated key local government areas, showcasing a strong electoral performance
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Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over nine years of experience covering politics, elections, public affairs, and governance in Nigeria and Africa.
Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti state - The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) early Sunday morning, June 21, officially declared Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC) the winner of the 2026 Ekiti governorship election.
Legit.ng reports that Oyebanji polled a total of 319,224 votes to defeat his two closest challengers, Wole Oluyede of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Dare Bejide of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). The PDP secured 40,543 votes, while the ADC garnered 12,872 votes.
Source: Twitter
How Governor Oyebanji won Ekiti election
Across the 16 local government areas, Governor Oyebanji, the APC candidate, dominated both urban and rural voting blocs, recording particularly strong performances in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti West, Irepodun/Ifelodun, Ikole, and Ekiti East, Premium Times reported.
The Punch also noted the development.
In Ado Ekiti, the state capital and largest voting centre, Oyebanji polled 38,026 votes, significantly ahead of the PDP’s 3,817 votes. Similar margins were recorded in Ekiti West, where he secured 28,258 votes compared to the PDP’s 3,644 votes.
In the Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area, the APC candidate also recorded a strong showing with 29,278 votes, while Ikole delivered 26,508 votes for the ruling party, leaving opposition candidates far behind.
APC chieftain reacts to Oyebanji's win
Meanwhile, 'Sokan Ope, a chieftain of the APC in the Southwest, said the declaration of Governor Oyebanji as the winner of the Ekiti state election is “a resounding affirmation of the confidence and trust the people of Ekiti state have reposed in his leadership.”
In a chat with Legit.ng, Ope noted that beyond securing a renewed mandate, Governor Oyebanji has made history as the first governor of Ekiti state to win re-election while in office, describing it as a remarkable achievement that underscores the widespread acceptance of his administration and its development agenda.
He added:
“My brother, the outcome of the election is a clear endorsement of Governor Oyebanji’s remarkable performance in office, his inclusive style of governance, and his unwavering commitment to the development, peace, and prosperity of our dear state.
"There was no chance that a clean sweep wouldn't happen. It was crystal clear before the election. Forget the talks about vote-buying. Even if we remove that, none of his opposition stands a chance of beating him."
Source: Facebook
Read more on the Ekiti election 2026:
- Meet the 4 youngest candidates contesting Ekiti governorship election
- Who Is Wole Oluyede? Key facts about PDP candidate in Ekiti governorship election
- Ekiti governorship election 2026: 3 candidates most likely to win and why
PDP chieftain makes vote-buying allegation
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that a stalwart of the PDP, Pastor Samson Omoyajowo, alleged that APC chieftains in Ekiti shared between N15,000 and N20,000 to make the people vote for them.
Omoyajowo said the PDP gave nothing to the voters, yet still won by a wide margin in his polling unit.
Proofreading by Funmilayo Aremu, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
