RismadarVoice Reporters, June 21, 2026
Governor Biodun Oyebanji has described his re-election for a second term as a humbling vote of confidence from the people of Ekiti State, pledging to deepen development efforts and ensure that the benefits of governance reach every household across the state.
Speaking after being declared winner of Saturday’s governorship election by the Independent National Electoral Commission, Oyebanji said the outcome reflected the overwhelming endorsement of continuity, stability, and progress by the people of Ekiti.
The governor expressed profound gratitude to voters for what he described as a historic mandate, noting that the scale of the victory demonstrated the collective aspirations of residents across the state.
“The voice of the people has reverberated from every part of our great state, and the message is clear,” Oyebanji stated.
“I am deeply humbled by the scale of this victory. Securing a clean sweep across all 16 local government areas and 85 per cent of the popular vote is a humbling vote of confidence from Ekiti Kete.”
He added that voters from both urban centres and rural communities had spoken with one voice in support of continued development and a future driven by opportunity and prosperity.
According to the governor, the renewed mandate places a greater responsibility on his administration to expand the reach of governance and improve the quality of life of citizens across the state.
“This mandate means that our work must touch every household even deeper. There are no winners or losers today; there is only one united Ekiti determined to continue its journey of upward mobility,” he said.
Oyebanji pledged to continue leading with humility, dedication, fairness, and a commitment to inclusive development.
The election result was announced in the early hours of Sunday by the Returning Officer, Adenike Oladiji, who declared Oyebanji winner after polling 319,224 votes across the state’s 16 local government areas.
According to the results announced by INEC, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Oluwole Oluyede, secured 40,543 votes, while Dare Bejide of the African Democratic Congress polled 12,872 votes.
INEC further disclosed that a total of 384,940 voters were accredited for the election. Of this number, 375,777 votes were declared valid, while 6,332 ballots were rejected, bringing the total votes cast to 382,109.
According to reports, the election, which attracted significant attention across the country, was largely peaceful despite reports of technical challenges and allegations of irregularities in some areas.
