Politics
Oyebanji Wins Ekiti Guber Election in Landslide Victory
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC) the winner of the 2026 Ekiti State governorship election, securing another four-year term in office.
The Returning Officer for the election, Professor Adenike Oladiji, announced the result at about 3:13 a.m. on Sunday after the completion of collation from the state’s 16 local government areas.
According to the results, Oyebanji polled 319,224 votes to defeat his closest challengers.
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The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Oluwole Oluyede, secured 40,543 votes, while Dare Bejide of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) garnered 12,872 votes.
Oladiji disclosed that 384,940 voters were accredited for the election, while 375,777 valid votes were recorded. She added that 6,332 votes were rejected, bringing the total votes cast to 382,109.
The declaration ended a closely watched governorship contest that saw voters across Ekiti State head to the polls on Saturday amid a generally peaceful atmosphere.
Despite the successful conduct of the election, reports of technical challenges and allegations of irregularities emerged from some polling units.
INEC said all 2,445 polling units designated for the election opened for voting.
According to the commission, 2,257 polling units, representing 92.31 per cent, opened before 8:30 a.m., while 188 polling units experienced minor delays but commenced voting before 10:30 a.m.
The electoral body also began uploading polling unit results to its Result Viewing Portal (IReV) after voting and counting were completed in several locations.
During the election, PDP candidate Oluwole Oluyede raised concerns over developments at Ugele/Arokun Ward in Ikere Local Government Area.
Speaking to journalists after casting his vote at Polling Unit 006, he alleged that many voters were unable to vote because of challenges associated with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).
Oluyede also alleged voter harassment and intimidation in the area.
Earlier, some elderly voters at the same polling unit expressed frustration after they were unable to complete accreditation due to BVAS issues and called on INEC to urgently address the problem.
ADC candidate Dare Bejide also alleged irregularities during the election.
However, Governor Oyebanji dismissed the allegations and insisted that those making such claims must provide evidence.
The governor, who voted at Polling Unit 003, Okelele, Ikogosi-Ekiti, in Ekiti West Local Government Area, described the conduct of the election as satisfactory and encouraged eligible voters to participate peacefully in the democratic process.
Similarly, the Commissioner of Police in charge of the election, CP Abayomi Shogunle, stated that no case of vote-buying was reported to security agencies during the poll.
Voting ended before 3 p.m. in many polling units, after which sorting and counting of ballots commenced. However, some locations experienced minor disruptions.
At Polling Unit 008 in Ugele/Arokun Ward, Ikere Local Government Area, sorting and counting reportedly became rowdy as party agents and supporters disagreed over the validity of some ballot papers.
At Polling Unit 006, where the PDP candidate voted, voting was still ongoing as of 4 p.m. due to delays caused by accreditation challenges.
Security personnel later intervened to restore order when the situation became tense.
Election observers generally commended the peaceful conduct of the exercise while raising concerns about some procedural issues.
First Vice President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Sebastian Anyia, described the process as peaceful and orderly, expressing optimism that the smooth conduct witnessed during accreditation would continue throughout the election.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Women Trust Fund, Brenda Anugwom, praised the determination shown by female voters.
“The women are so resilient; in front of me at the other polling unit, they are laying their blankets on the floor and placing their toddlers, which means they are here to stay; they mean business, and they really want to cast their vote,” she said.
Meanwhile, election monitoring group Yiaga Africa raised concerns over what it described as discrepancies between ballot papers, result sheets and INEC’s published list of candidates.
In a statement signed by Aisha Abdullahi, Chair of the 2026 Ekiti Election Observation Mission, and Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, Samson Itodo, the organisation said:
“Yiaga Africa is observing the Ekiti State governorship election, and our preliminary findings raise serious concerns about the consistency of the materials INEC has deployed.”
The group warned that the inconsistencies could create confusion during voting and collation processes.
Reacting to the concerns, INEC explained that 19 political parties were included on the ballot paper to avoid the cost of printing fresh ballot papers following court orders and other administrative changes.
Ahead of the election, INEC repeatedly assured residents of its readiness to conduct a credible and transparent poll, while security agencies stated that extensive preparations had been made to ensure a peaceful exercise.
The Nigeria Police Force led a multi-agency security operation across the state, deploying personnel to polling units, collation centres and other strategic locations.
Authorities also imposed restrictions on vehicular movement during voting hours and warned political actors against violence, vote-buying and other electoral offences.
With the declaration of the final result, Oyebanji has secured a second term as governor of Ekiti State after recording a decisive victory over his opponents in the governorship election.
Election Results
Biodun Oyebanji (APC) – 319,224 votes
Oluwole Oluyede (PDP) – 40,543 votes
Dare Bejide (ADC) – 12,872 votes
Election Statistics
Accredited Voters: 384,940
Valid Votes: 375,777
Rejected Votes: 6,332
Total Votes Cast: 382,109
The All Progressives Congress has recorded a clean sweep in the Ebonyi State local government elections, winning all 13 chairmanship and 171 councillorship seats contested in the poll.
The results were announced on Sunday by the Chairman of the Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission, Patrick Enyi, at the commission’s office on Onwe Road, Abakaliki.
Among the winners was Osborn Umahi, son of the Minister of Works, David Umahi, who emerged chairman-elect of Ohaozara Local Government Area.
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Other candidates declared winners include Peace Agwu for Ishielu, Paul Ituma for Ohaukwu, Friday Nwuhuo for Ezza North, Chinedu Mkpuma for Ezza South, Chidi Nwode for Ikwo and Timothy Nwachi for Afikpo.
Also declared winners were Ikechukwu Ogbofia for Onicha, Michael Kalu Anyim for Ivo, Simeon Onuoha for Edda, Helen Aduga for Izzi, Chidiebere Alo for Abakaliki and Chibueze Odigwe for Ebonyi Local Government Area.
Enyi described the election as peaceful, free and fair, noting that other political parties participated in the exercise.
He commended voters for turning out to exercise their constitutional rights and appreciated security agencies for providing support throughout the election.
Speaking after his declaration, Umahi commended EBSIEC for what he described as the transparent and peaceful conduct of the election.
He pledged to prioritise rural development, youth empowerment and agricultural transformation during his tenure as chairman.
Meanwhile, the Ebonyi State APC Chairman, Stanley Okoro Emegha, described the party’s sweeping victory as an indication of its dominance in the state.
Emegha said the outcome also demonstrated what he described as the growing acceptance of the APC across Ebonyi, expressing confidence that the party would record another victory in the 2027 general elections.
Former Gombe State Governor and Senator representing Gombe Central, Danjuma Goje, has denied reports that he is planning to defect from the All Progressives Congress ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Goje made the clarification on Saturday while addressing his supporters at his residence in Gombe, amid speculation over his political future following his loss of the APC senatorial ticket.
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The former governor said he was consulting with political stakeholders and would announce his next political move at the appropriate time.
He urged his supporters to remain loyal to the party’s leaders and disregard what he described as attempts to mislead them.
“Do not listen to betrayers, go home, prepare, be loyal to our party leaders and wait for my final order,” Goje said.
He further stated, “I am not defecting to any party now, however I am consulting stakeholders, but I promise I will be with my supporters with or without a Senate ticket.”
The development comes after Goje’s name was omitted from the Independent National Electoral Commission’s final list of candidates for the 2027 general elections.
Goje had contested the APC senatorial primary for Gombe Central but lost the party’s ticket to another aspirant. Reports from the primary indicated that Mohammed Ahmed emerged as the APC candidate for the district.
His supporters had earlier rejected the party’s consensus arrangement that replaced him as the proposed candidate, with his camp questioning the process.
The situation has fuelled speculation about Goje’s next political move, particularly amid reports of overtures from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party to offer him its senatorial ticket.
Despite the speculation, Goje has not announced any decision to leave the APC, insisting that he is still consulting stakeholders before taking a position.
Goje served as governor of Gombe State from 2003 to 2011 and was elected to the Senate in 2011. He was re-elected in 2023 for a fourth term representing Gombe Central.
With his name absent from the 2027 senatorial candidates’ list, political attention is now focused on whether Goje will remain in the APC, support another candidate or eventually move to another political platform.
For now, the former governor has asked his supporters to remain calm, loyal and ready for his “final order.”
Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, has presented 32 buses to leaders of the All Progressives Congress in the state to boost grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Uzodimma presented the vehicles on Saturday at the Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu International Conference Centre, where he charged the party to secure a 100 per cent victory in Imo, insisting that anything less would be unacceptable.
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The 32 buses comprise 27 vehicles for APC Local Government Area chairmen, three for the party’s zonal chairmen, and one each for the state women and youth leaders.
Speaking at the event, Uzodimma said the APC had enough achievements to campaign for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election, expressing confidence that even opposition supporters would vote for the President.
“We have the material to campaign because President Bola Tinubu has done tremendously well. Even our opponents will vote for President Tinubu,” Uzodimma said.
The governor said the party must deliver a complete victory in the state in the 2027 elections.
“Imo is APC and APC is Imo. We will deliver 100 per cent. 99.9 per cent will be unacceptable,” he noted.
Uzodimma also urged those who regarded themselves as his friends to demonstrate their support by voting for the APC and Tinubu.
“If you are my friend, the only way you can let me know you are my friend is when you vote for APC and support President Tinubu,” he said.
According to the governor, the vehicles were provided to strengthen the APC at the grassroots and enable party leaders to take its message to communities across the state.
“Today we want to support our party chairmen for the tasks ahead. If you say that party is supreme, this is the time,” he said.
Uzodimma, however, cautioned the beneficiaries against using the buses for purposes outside party mobilisation.
“Please use the vehicles for the party. It is important that the vehicles must be used to work for the party,” he added.
The APC State Chairman, Austin Onyedebelu, thanked the governor for the gesture, saying the buses would help the party expand its reach across communities in Imo.
Onyedebelu pledged that the party would work towards delivering all APC candidates, from the President to candidates contesting seats in the state Houses of Assembly.
The APC South-East Zonal Vice Chairman, Ijeoma Arodiogbu, also commended Uzodimma for providing the buses, describing him as “a man of grace.”
Arodiogbu urged party officials to deploy the vehicles effectively for grassroots mobilisation, warning that excuses would not be tolerated as the party prepares for the 2027 elections.
The 32 buses are expected to be deployed across Imo’s 27 local government areas as the APC intensifies its mobilisation ahead of the elections.
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