SUN JUNE 21 2026-theGBJournal| Incumbent Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) secured a second term in office after winning Saturday’s gubernatorial election by a wide margin, according to official results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Oyebanji polled 319,224 votes, comfortably defeating Wole Oluyede of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who received 40,543 votes, and Dare Bejide of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), who garnered 12,872 votes, extending the APC’s control of the southwestern state.
INEC Returning Officer Adenike Oladiji declared Oyebanji winner after collation of results from across the state.
The election was conducted with an expanded voter register following the suspension of the Continuous Voter Registration exercise and a subsequent clean-up that raised the number of registered voters to 1,059,360 in 2026 from 987,647 in 2023.
Permanent Voter Card (PVC) collection also increased to 1,028,929, representing a 97.1% collection rate.
Following the announcement, Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, who chaired the APC National Campaign Council for the election, described the outcome as a strong endorsement of Oyebanji’s performance and inclusive leadership style.
”This remarkable and resounding victory stands as a powerful affirmation of his performance in office, his inclusive style of leadership, and his steadfast commitment to the progress, stability, and development of Ekiti State,” said Sani.
He said the result reflected voters’ support for continuity and credited President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms and support for state governments with creating conditions that have enabled subnational administrations to deliver development projects.
According to Sani, ”through courageous reforms, strategic interventions, and a deliberate commitment to strengthening the capacity of states, the President has continued to create conditions that empower governors to deliver meaningful dividends of democracy and accelerate socio-economic development across the federation.”
Sani also commended INEC, security agencies, election observers and the media for ensuring what he described as a peaceful, credible and transparent electoral process, saying their efforts had strengthened confidence in Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
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