The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially declared Governor Abiodun Abayomi Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the 2026 Ekiti State Governorship Election, securing his re-election for a second term.
Professor Adenike Oladiji, the Returning Officer for the election, announced the results at approximately 3:00 a.m. on Sunday at the INEC Collation Centre in Ado-Ekiti. Governor Oyebanji polled a total of 319,224 votes, defeating his closest rival, Wole Oluyede of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who received 40,543 votes. Oluwadare Bejide of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) placed third with 12,872 votes.
The APC candidate swept all 16 Local Government Areas of the state, recording a decisive victory with 375,778 valid votes cast out of 384,940 accredited voters. The election, held on Saturday, June 20, 2026, was described as largely peaceful by observers, with a high percentage of results uploaded to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).
In his initial reaction, Governor Oyebanji expressed gratitude to the people of Ekiti State for their continued support and pledged to intensify development efforts across the state. "I will continue to serve the good people of Ekiti with renewed vigour and dedication," he stated.
This victory marks a significant milestone as Oyebanji becomes one of the few governors to secure re-election in Ekiti State, defying the state's historical pattern of unseating incumbents.