By Jeremy Fregene
Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has secured a historic second term in office after recording a sweeping victory in the 2026 Ekiti State governorship election, winning all 16 local government areas of the state.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) formally declared Oyebanji the winner of the election in the early hours of Sunday following the collation of results from across the state.
Announcing the final outcome at about 3:13 a.m., the Returning Officer for the election, Prof. Adenike Oladiji, Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, said the APC candidate polled a commanding 319,224 votes to defeat his closest rivals.
According to the results, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Oluwole Oluyede, garnered 40,543 votes, while Dare Bejide of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) secured 12,872 votes.
Oladiji disclosed that 384,940 voters were accredited for the election. Of the total votes cast, 375,777 were declared valid, while 6,332 were rejected.
Voting commenced at approximately 8:31 a.m. on Saturday and officially ended at 2:30 p.m., with more than 300,000 voters participating in the exercise.
With the victory, Oyebanji becomes the first governor in Ekiti State’s history to win re-election consecutively, cementing his place in the state’s political record books.
Reacting to the outcome, the governor described the overwhelming mandate as a humbling endorsement of his administration’s performance and vision for the state.
In a statement following his declaration as winner, Oyebanji said the people of Ekiti had spoken decisively in favour of continuity, stability, and sustained development.
“The voice of the people has reverberated from every part of our great state, and the message is clear,” he said.
“I am deeply humbled by the scale of this victory. Securing a clean sweep across all 16 local government areas and 85 per cent of the popular vote is a humbling vote of confidence from Ekiti Kete.
“From our urban centres to our most remote communities, you have spoken with one thunderous voice for continuous development, stability, and a future of endless opportunities.”
The governor pledged to rededicate himself to service and ensure that the benefits of governance reach every community and household across the state.
“This mandate means that our work must touch every household even deeper. There are no winners or losers today; there is only one united Ekiti determined to continue its journey of upward mobility.
“I pledge to honour this immense trust by continuing to lead with humility, dedication, and fairness,” he stated.
President Bola Tinubu also congratulated Oyebanji on what he described as a resounding electoral triumph.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President commended the people of Ekiti State for conducting themselves peacefully throughout the election and for renewing their confidence in the governor.
Tinubu also praised security agencies for maintaining law and order during the exercise and urged INEC to sustain efforts towards delivering peaceful, credible, and transparent elections ahead of future polls, including the forthcoming Osun governorship election and the 2027 general elections.
The President noted that Oyebanji’s first term had recorded notable achievements in infrastructure development, agriculture, education, healthcare, youth empowerment and rural development under the BAO Agenda.
According to him, the outcome of the election represents a clear endorsement of continuity, stability and people-centred governance.
Tinubu urged the governor to remain magnanimous in victory and carry all segments of the state along as he begins a fresh four-year mandate.
He also commended other candidates who participated in the election, describing their involvement as a vital contribution to democratic development, while calling on all political stakeholders to unite behind the governor in the interest of Ekiti’s progress.
The President reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to working closely with the Ekiti State Government to deliver greater dividends of democracy and advance the Renewed Hope Agenda across the country.
He prayed for wisdom, strength and good health for Oyebanji as he continues to lead the state over the next four years.