3:13 a.m. Verdict: “Stands Re-elected”
Ekiti’s political history was rewritten Sunday, June 21, 2026, at 3:13 a.m. when INEC Returning Officer Prof. Adenike Oladiji declared: “Oyebanji Abiodun Abayomi, having satisfied the requirements of the law, is hereby declared the winner and stands re-elected”.
Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the APC won all 16 local government areas with 319,224 votes.
PDP’s Olumayokun Oluyede scored 40,543 votes, and ADC’s Dare Bejide got 12,872.
“Humbling Vote of Confidence”
Oyebanji called it “a humbling vote of confidence from Ekiti Kete”. He won about 85% of the vote and even swept Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele’s polling unit 164-8.
“The voice of the people has reverberated from every part of our great state… you have spoken with one thunderous voice for continuous development, stability and a future of endless opportunities” – President Bola Tinubu called to congratulate him.
Senate Leader Bamidele called it “a historic milestone… testament to his approach to governance and ability to unite stakeholders”.
Numbers Tell the Story
Total registered voters: 988,251.
Accredited: 384,940.
Valid votes: 375,777 out of 382,109 cast.
Oyebanji is now the first Ekiti governor since 1999 to secure back-to-back re-election. The Progressive Governors Forum hailed it as “a strong endorsement of APC governance”.
Opposition Pushback
Not everyone celebrated. PDP’s Oluyede raised concerns over BVAS-related challenges and voter intimidation in Ikere LGA. ADC’s Bejide accused the APC of electoral irregularities.
Civil society groups commended the peaceful conduct but flagged vote-buying trends in some areas.
What’s Next for Ekiti
Oyebanji’s first term expires October 2026. He pledged “our work must touch every household even deeper” and promised to “lead with humility, dedication and fairness”.
He told reporters: “There is no doubt, this is an unprecedented electoral outcome in the history of our state”.
Ekiti has spoken. Now the real work begins. Can Oyebanji deliver “dividends for every household”? The next four years will tell.
