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Tag: Ekiti State

  • Biodun Oyebanji Wins All 16 LGAs to Secure Historic Second Term in Ekiti

    Incumbent Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been re-elected as governor of Ekiti State after recording a sweeping victory in Saturday’s governorship election.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Oyebanji winner in the early hours of Sunday after he secured 319,224 votes and won in all 16 local government areas of the state.

    Oyebanji Defeats PDP, ADC Candidates

    INEC Returning Officer, Prof. Adenike Oladiji, announced that the APC candidate defeated his closest rivals by a wide margin.

    According to the results, Oluwole Oluyede of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) polled 40,543 votes, while Oluwadare Patrick Bejide of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) secured 12,872 votes.

    A total of 375,777 valid votes were recorded, while 6,332 votes were rejected. About 384,940 voters were accredited for the election.

    Oyebanji’s total represented nearly 85 per cent of valid votes cast, underlining the APC’s dominance in the poll.

    Historic Re-Election Victory

    The outcome marks a major political milestone in Ekiti State.

    Oyebanji has become the first governor since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999 to win re-election and secure a second consecutive term in office.

    Political observers have long described Ekiti as a state with strong anti-incumbency tendencies, making the governor’s victory particularly significant.

    Election Day and Voting Process

    Voting took place across the state’s 16 local government areas, 177 wards and 2,445 polling units.

    Election observers reported largely peaceful conduct, with INEC officials and security personnel deployed across voting centres. Accreditation and voting were conducted using the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).

    While the process was generally peaceful, there were reports of isolated cases of vote-buying, voter inducement and minor technical issues in some locations.

    INEC also uploaded polling unit results to its Result Viewing Portal (IReV) during the collation process.

    Reactions Trail Victory

    Reacting to the outcome, Oyebanji described the result as a vote of confidence in his administration and pledged to continue delivering on his campaign promises.

    The election attracted 14 candidates, although the APC, PDP and ADC accounted for the overwhelming majority of votes cast.

    Opposition parties are yet to formally announce whether they will challenge the outcome in court.

     

  • INEC Holds Party Stakeholders Meeting Ahead of Ekiti Governorship Election, Appeals Court Judgments on Election Timetable

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has held a consultative meeting with political party leaders ahead of the Ekiti State governorship election scheduled for June 20, 2026, as part of final preparations for the poll.

    The meeting, which took place in Abuja, brought together INEC officials, national commissioners, and representatives of political parties to review readiness for the election and address outstanding concerns.

    Stakeholders Review Election Preparedness

    INEC said the engagement was part of its scheduled consultations with political parties aimed at ensuring a smooth electoral process in Ekiti State.

    The Commission noted that the discussions were focused on strengthening coordination and ensuring that all parties are aligned ahead of the poll, which is now about eleven days away.

    Officials said the meeting also provided an opportunity to fine-tune logistical arrangements and address operational issues ahead of the governorship election.

    INEC Defends Election Timetable

    Meanwhile, INEC has confirmed that it has filed appeals against two Federal High Court judgments that questioned parts of its timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general elections.

    INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, said the Commission believes the electoral timetable is a structured and interconnected process that cannot be selectively altered without affecting the entire electoral calendar.

    He made the remarks during the Commission’s quarterly consultative meeting with political party leaders in Abuja.

    Court Judgments Under Review

    The Commission is appealing a May 20, 2026 ruling in a case filed by the Youth Party, as well as a May 26, 2026 judgment involving the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

    While the SDP ruling affirmed INEC’s authority to issue an electoral timetable, it also nullified certain timelines related to candidate nomination and substitution.

    INEC said the judgments raise important legal questions about its constitutional and statutory powers in managing elections and has therefore taken steps to seek clarification from higher courts.

    INEC Lists Key Electoral Processes

    Prof. Amupitan explained that several electoral activities operate within the broader timetable, including party primaries, nomination processes, voter education, material deployment, and configuration of election technology systems such as BVAS.

    He stressed that these processes must be harmonised to ensure transparency, efficiency and equal treatment of all political parties.

    INEC maintained that despite the legal challenges, it remains committed to conducting elections in line with the Constitution and the Electoral Act.

    Preparations for Candidate Nomination Portal

    The Commission also announced that it will issue access codes to political parties on June 26, 2026, to enable them upload candidate details through its nomination portal.

    INEC warned that the system is fully automated and will close once the submission window expires.

    The electoral body assured stakeholders that preparations for both the Ekiti governorship election and the 2027 general elections are ongoing as scheduled.