Ekiti Election Aftermath: Oyebanji Declared Winner Amidst Vote-Buying Scandal
Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the APC secured a historic re-election in the 2026 Ekiti State governorship election, winning all 16 local government areas. However, the election was significantly marred by widespread allegations of vote-buying, voter inducement, and security irregularities, prompting urgent calls for investigation and electoral reforms from civil society groups and opposition parties.
The 2026 Ekiti State governorship election saw incumbent Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC) secure a re-election for a second term, marking a significant political milestone in the state. Oyebanji garnered a decisive 319,224 votes, triumphing over his closest rival, Oluwole Oluyede of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 40,543 votes. Dare Bejide of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) finished third with 12,872 votes. This victory is particularly notable as Oyebanji became the first Ekiti governor to successfully achieve consecutive re-election, thereby defying the state's traditional political landscape where incumbents have historically struggled to retain power. He secured wins in all 16 local government areas, preventing any opposition from establishing a geographical stronghold and achieving substantial margins in key voting centers such as Ado Ekiti, Irepodun/Ifelodun, and Ekiti West.
Despite the official declaration of results by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) following the election held on June 20, 2026, the exercise was widely criticized for widespread irregularities, incidents of violence, and operational deficiencies. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State, through its spokesperson Atofarati Sanya, alleged that Nigeria's democracy had devolved into a system of vote-buying, specifically accusing the APC and its members of trading votes without consequence from security authorities. Similarly, the Movement for Credible Elections (MCE), a Civil Society Organization, urged for an immediate investigation into widespread allegations of vote-buying, the discovery of pre-thumbprinted ballot papers, the alleged importation of voters, and the distribution of uncollected Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs). These reports, alongside videos circulating on social media, raised serious concerns regarding the overall integrity of the electoral process.
The CLEEN Foundation, after conducting observations and analyses across various polling units, echoed these concerns, highlighting issues of vote-buying, voter inducement, security gaps, and operational shortcomings. Executive Director Peter Maduoma cited specific incidents in Ado Ekiti and Ijero Local Government Area where party members were reportedly seen distributing tally slips to voters post-ballot, directing them to locations outside polling units, which strongly suggested voter inducement. The Foundation also expressed alarm over the conduct of security personnel, with 46.3% of officials perceived as not impartial, and noted significant security deployment gaps in areas like Ijero LGA. Reports of violence included a fracas at Ilawe polling unit in Ward 2, Ekiti South Local Government Area, involving security operatives allegedly linked to a presidential aide and the ADC governorship candidate, Ambassador Oluwadare Bejide. Political thugs, purportedly affiliated with the APC, were also reported to have violently attacked voters in the area. The EU-SDGN Election Observation Hub documented 24 incidents of violence across 10 local government areas.
Officials from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) were dispatched to Governor Oyebanji's polling unit in Ikogosi, Ekiti West Local Government Area, where they monitored activities amidst concerns over alleged vote-buying, though no arrests or disruptions were reported. Meanwhile, INEC encountered challenges with its Result Viewing Portal (IReV), designed to enhance transparency. While approximately 90% of polling unit results had been uploaded by Saturday evening, the full transmission, specifically 66 polling unit results, remained incomplete by Sunday morning due to reported connectivity issues. INEC reiterated that physical result sheets remained the legally recognized basis for the collation and declaration of election outcomes.
In response to the identified shortcomings, the CLEEN Foundation put forth 10 critical recommendations for INEC, the Nigeria Police Force, and other relevant agencies. These recommendations included mandatory impartiality training for security personnel, strict enforcement of the Code of Conduct, implementation of rotational deployment for officers, elimination of deployment gaps, adherence to timely deployment protocols, compliance with health safety measures, enhanced technical support for the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), improved logistical support for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs), stronger protection of security infrastructure (highlighting an attack on Isan Police Station), and a demand for an independent investigation into such security incidents.
Following his re-election, Governor Oyebanji pledged to deliver greater development and enhance welfare for households across the state. He characterized the election outcome as a profound demonstration of confidence and trust from the people of Ekiti State, emphasizing that the results reflected a collective desire for continuity, peace, stability, and sustained development. The governor called upon all residents to unite in the pursuit of collective progress for the state.