Ekiti Election Aftermath: PDP Rejects Results, Oyebanji's Victory Hailed Amidst High Turnout
Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji secured a predictable and historic re-election victory, becoming the first governor to win back-to-back in the state. His triumph, supported by elite consensus and visible projects, overcame opposition claims of irregularities. Election monitors noted high women participation but flagged low youth turnout and vote trading.
Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State secured a resounding victory in the off-season election held on June 20, a result that many observers and political stakeholders anticipated. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officially declared Oyebanji the winner at dawn on Sunday, June 21, confirming his re-election. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu hailed the victory as a vote of confidence in continuity, stability, and people-centered governance, while the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership emphasized it demonstrated the Ekiti people's trust in the governor. Governor Oyebanji himself attributed the outcome to a validation of Tinubu’s administration, with no source expressing surprise at his win.
In the election, Governor Oyebanji, representing the All Progressives Congress (APC), garnered an impressive 319,224 votes. His closest challenger, Wole Oluyede of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), received 40,543 votes, while Dare Bejide of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) polled 12,872 votes. Oyebanji’s victory was comprehensive, as he emerged triumphant in all 16 local government areas of the state. INEC confirmed that the APC candidate met all constitutional requirements to be declared the winner. Out of 382,109 votes cast, 6,332 were rejected. The election saw a total of 384,940 voters participate out of 988,251 registered voters across Ekiti State.
Oyebanji’s re-election marks a significant historical achievement for Ekiti State, as he is the first governor to secure a back-to-back victory, effectively succeeding himself. This feat breaks a long-standing