Biodun Oyebanji Re‑elected Governor of Ekiti State in Landslide Victory

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC) the winner of the Ekiti State governorship election with 319,224 votes, making him the first incumbent to win back‑to‑back re‑election since 1999. The poll, held on 20 June, was described as largely peaceful and saw the governor win across all 177 wards and the state’s 16 local government areas.

President Bola Tinubu, APC national chairman Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, Governors Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri and Sheriff Oborevwori, and the Renew Hope Ambassadors all congratulated Oyebanji, framing the result as a vote of confidence in the APC’s performance and Tinubu’s reform agenda. The governor thanked voters, pledged to work harder, and extended an olive‑branch to opposition candidates Wole Oluyede (PDP) and Dare Bejide (ADC).

Opposition parties rejected the outcome. PDP candidate Oluyede called the result non‑reflective of the electorate’s will, while ADC candidate Dare Bejide described the election as “an atmosphere replica of a war zone” and alleged widespread vote‑buying. Civil‑society group Yiaga Africa noted improvements such as BVAS deployment but raised concerns over vote‑buying, turnout figure discrepancies, and gaps in result management.

The same INEC announcement also presented certificates of return to winners of June‑20 by‑elections in Enugu, Kano, Ondo, Nasarawa, Kebbi and Rivers, where the APC secured five of six contests, underscoring the party’s broader electoral momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections.