Ekiti State holds governorship election as over 1 million voters head to polls

On Saturday, June 20, 2026, more than 1 million registered voters in Ekiti State cast ballots to elect a new governor. Incumbent APC Governor Biodun Oyebanji sought a historic second term against challengers from the PDP, ADC and eleven other parties, with fifteen candidates listed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Security agencies imposed a statewide vehicle‑movement ban from midnight to 6 p.m. and deployed personnel to border communities to deter electoral violence. Observers reported incidents of vote‑buying, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) deployed operatives to the governor’s own polling unit. Technical problems with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) slowed accreditation, prompting complaints such as Senator Babafemi Ojudu’s: “The BVAS is malfunctioning… it took almost 30 minutes to capture my face.” Despite these challenges, election officials and police said the process remained peaceful, with civil‑society groups urging voters to remain calm and vote. The outcome will shape Ekiti’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections.