***Wins All 16 LGAs
By Florencemary Nwabueze
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of Saturday's governorship election in Ekiti State, with the incumbent governor securing a resounding victory across all 16 Local Government Areas.
Professor Adenike Oladiji, the Chief Returning Officer and Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), announced the results on Sunday morning, confirming that Oyebanji polled 319,224 votes to defeat his closest rival, Dr. Wole Oluyede of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who managed 40,543 votes. Dare Bejide of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) came third with 12,872 votes.
"I, Prof. Adenike Oladiji, hereby certify that I am the Returning Officer for the Ekiti State governorship election held on June 20, 2026. That Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji of the APC, having satisfied the requirements of the law and scored the highest number of votes, is hereby declared the winner and returned elected," she stated.
Out of 988,252 registered voters, 384,940 were accredited for the election. A total of 382,109 votes were cast, with 375,777 valid votes and 6,332 rejected ballots.
The APC's dominance was evident across all local government areas, with the party securing its highest margins in Ekiti West (28,258 votes), Irepodun/Ifelodun (29,278 votes), and Ado-Ekiti (38,026 votes). The PDP's best performance came in Ikere LG, where it polled 9,892 votes, but still fell short of the APC's 11,116 votes.
In his acceptance speech, Governor Oyebanji described his re-election as a "renewed call to service," pledging to govern with humility, compassion, and the fear of God.
"I have a proper understanding of the responsibility that this victory has placed on my shoulders. It is a responsibility of service to the people of Ekiti State," Oyebanji said.
The governor assured residents that his administration would remain committed to delivering quality governance and improving the welfare of all Ekiti people. He urged citizens to expect even better performance in the coming years, noting that the renewed mandate would inspire his government to work harder.
"We have a development guide and we will continue to faithfully implement that plan. Our focus remains the comprehensive implementation of our development agenda for the benefit of all Ekiti people," he added.
The election was generally peaceful, though INEC reported a cancellation in one polling unit in Irepodun/Ifelodun LG due to over-voting. Other parties, including the Labour Party (276 votes) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (35 votes), recorded minimal figures.
The results have been certified by INEC officials and party agents, with the commission praising the conduct of security agencies and electoral officers throughout the process.
Oyebanji's emphatic victory solidifies APC's hold on Ekiti State, as he prepares to begin his second term with a clear mandate from the people.