Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been declared the winner of the 2026 Ekiti State governorship election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), securing a fresh mandate to continue leading the state for another term.
The declaration was made on Sunday in Ado-Ekiti after the completion of the collation of results from all 16 local government areas of the state. According to INEC, Oyebanji polled 319,224 votes, defeating his closest rivals from the opposition parties by a wide margin.
The victory marks a significant political achievement for the APC, which retained control of the state amid what observers described as a closely watched election. Supporters of the governor celebrated across several parts of Ekiti State after the announcement, describing the outcome as a vote of confidence in the administration’s performance over the past four years.
In his reaction, Oyebanji thanked the people of Ekiti for their support and pledged to remain committed to infrastructure development, economic growth, education, healthcare and youth empowerment. He also called on his opponents to join hands in advancing the state’s development irrespective of political differences.
While APC supporters hailed the result as a reflection of the governor’s popularity and governance record, opposition parties expressed disappointment and indicated they would review the conduct of the election before deciding on their next steps.
Political analysts noted that the outcome could have implications for the political calculations leading to the 2027 general elections, especially within the Southwest region where the APC continues to maintain a strong presence.
The election was largely peaceful, although election observers called for continued improvements in voter turnout, electoral transparency and civic participation in future polls. INEC commended security agencies, electoral officials and voters for their roles in ensuring a smooth electoral process.
