- Voters across Ekiti State are filing out to cast their ballots in a highly anticipated off-cycle 2026 governorship poll.
- This election serves as a critical litmus test for the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) logistics and a major political preview ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
- The biggest storyline heading into the 2026 Ekiti poll is whether the incumbent governor, Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC), can smash a decades-old political pattern.
- Since Nigeria returned to democracy in 1999, no incumbent governor in Ekiti State has ever won back-to-back, consecutive re-elections.
- Heavyweights like Kayode Fayemi and Ayodele Fayose both served two terms, but their terms were interrupted by losses and comebacks. Oyebanji, who won all 16 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in 2022, is aiming to make history by breaking this anti-incumbency curse.
- Ekiti voters have shown unprecedented enthusiasm during pre-election preparations:
- Total Registered Voters: 1,059,360
- Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) Collected: 1,028,929
- Collection Rate: A staggering 97.1% of the electorate is legally cleared to vote, leaving just 30,431 PVCs uncollected.
- While PVC collection is at an all-time high, the ultimate question remains whether this historical enthusiasm will translate into actual voter turnout at the 2026 Ekiti poll.
05:38pm: APC wins Oyebanji’s polling unit
The All Progressives Congress has won the polling unit of its governorship candidate and incumbent governor, Biodun Oyebanji, in Saturday’s Ekiti State governorship election.
Results announced at Polling Unit 003, Ward 06, Okelele, Ikogosi Ekiti, showed that the APC secured 326 votes.
The African Democratic Congress polled two votes, while the Action Democratic Party and African Action Congress recorded one vote each.
Three votes were declared void.
The result is as follows:
APC – 326
ADC – 2
ADP – 1
AAC – 1
Void votes – 3
Oyebanji, who is seeking a second term on the platform of the APC, voted at Polling Unit 003, Ward 06, Okelele, Ikogosi Ekiti, alongside his wife, Olayemi, at about 11:38 am on Saturday.
04:33pm: As of press time, the following results have been submitted to the INEC IReV portal:
Ado Ekiti (21%)
344 Polling Units
Uploaded Results: 73
Efon (18%)
109 Polling Units
Uploaded Results: 21
Ekiti east (2%)
112 Polling Units
Uploaded Results: 2
Ekiti west (15%)
184 Polling Units
Uploaded Results: 27
Ekiti south west (26%)
188 Polling Units
Uploaded Results: 48
Emure (11%)
94 Polling Units
Uploaded Results: 10
Gbonyin (17%)
115 Polling Units
Uploaded Results: 19
Ido/Osi (15%)
144 Polling Units
Uploaded Results: 21
Ijero (17%)
145 Polling Units
Uploaded Results: 25
Ikere (18%)
125 Polling Units
Uploaded Results: 22
Ikole (19%)
189 Polling Units
Uploaded Results: 36
Ilejemeje (13%)
91 Polling Units
Uploaded Results: 12
Irepodun/Ifelodun (8%)
174 Polling Units
Uploaded Results: 13
Ise/Orun (14%)
114 Polling Units
Uploaded Results: 16
Moba (2%)
116 Polling Units
Uploaded Results: 2
Oye (16%)
191 Polling Units
Uploaded Results: 31
03:17pm: Sorting and counting of votes have commenced at Polling Unit 002, Ward 03, Ugele/Akoru, Ikere Local Government Area.
Total numbers of accredited voters 237
PDP 119
APC 113
ADC 2
NRM 1
Void 2
Total registered voters: 790
03:12pm: Results are out at PU 001, St. Michael Primary School, RA 04, Ado Ekiti LGA
APC – 297
PDP – 89
ADC – 09
LP – 01
NNPP – 01
APGA – 03
ZLP – 02
02:43pm: Sorting of votes has commenced at Polling Unit 001, Ado D Ijigbo in Ado LGA. Various party agents and security agents are currently monitoring the exercise.
02:37pm: Sorting and counting commenced at Polling Unit 008, Ugele/Arokun ward, Ikere Local Government Area.
But the exercise became rowdy at the polling unit as party officials and members argued over the validity of ballot papers.
02:30pm: Yiaga Africa Alleges ‘Discrepancies’ in Ballot Papers, Results Sheets
Yiaga Africa has alleged inconsistencies in the ballot papers, result sheets, and the list of candidates published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the ongoing 2026 governorship poll in Ekiti.
The concerns were raised a statement on Saturday signed by Aisha Abdullahi, chair of the 2026 Ekiti election observation mission Yiaga Africa, and Samson Itodo, executive director, Yiaga Africa.
“Specifically, the Form EC8A polling-unit result sheets provide spaces for 15 political parties; the ballot papers in circulation carry 19 parties; while INEC’s final list of candidates, as updated and available on the INEC website as of 18th June 2026, reflects 14 parties that fielded candidates,” the statement reads.
“Yiaga Africa recognizes the context. After INEC published its initial list of 12 candidates in January 2026, subsequent court rulings (notably on the PDP’s candidacy) and late administrative changes altered party and candidate participation.
“Some of those changes do not appear to have been fully and consistently reflected across all election materials. Also, the public may not have fully received information about these changes. These inconsistencies might create confusion during voting and collation.
“Where result sheets include parties that are not on the ballot, presiding officers may record zero votes for parties that voters did not see.
“Conversely, where voters cast ballots for parties not reflected on the result sheet, such actions could create uncertainty in recording, reconciliation, and collation.”
11:52am: Governor Biodun Oyebanji Arrives at Polling Unit With Wife to Cast His Vote
Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, alongside his wife, has cast his vote after arriving at his polling unit to participate in the ongoing election exercise. Their arrival drew attention from residents and party supporters already gathered at the venue.
10:22am: PDP Candidate Votes, Slams INEC over Delays
The gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ekiti State, Dr Wole Oluyede, has cast his polling unit at Osaguru Hall, unit 6, ward 3, Ikere-Ekiti.
Addressing the press after casting his vote, Oluyede alleged voter intimidation and expressed concerns over delays in the accreditation and voting process at his
He said: “I feel very unfortunate that all I can get here is a handful of cameras, whereas down the road where the deputy governor votes, there is an army of policemen harassing people.
“You should go there and see the army of policemen that are harassing people. They are using false vehicles. I taped them; I have evidence of that, and I will show you when it is appropriate. This is nonsense.
“The process is actually useless. People have been here for about one and a half hours and only five people have voted in my polling unit. That’s what they do all the time, so I am suspecting that there is something wrong with the INEC process.
“They have called the RATech for the last 45 minutes, and he hasn’t been here. You cannot disenfranchise these people. It is sad for democracy in Nigeria.”
10:25am: Fayose Casts Vote in Afao-Ekiti
Former Ekiti State Governor has cast his vote on Saturday at Polling Unit 1, St. David Primary School, Afao-Ekiti, as voting continued in the state’s governorship election. Afao-Ekiti is Fayose’s hometown and has long served as his voting base during major elections.
The former governor arrived at the polling unit to exercise his franchise as residents turned out to participate in the election, one of the most closely watched political contests in the state. Voting was ongoing across Ekiti’s 16 local government areas amid security deployments and electoral monitoring.
09:48am: Voting has commenced Community Primary School, Ilafon, PU 001 in Ward Isan/Ilafon/ilemeso, Oye Local Government Area of Ekiti State.
However, there was a disagreement between APC and PDP agent but it was settled by the security personnel. The election process is going smoothly.
09:14am: Heated Argument Erupts at Ekiti East Polling Unit Over Assisted Voting
A heated argument erupted at Polling Unit 004, St. Silas Primary School II, Egboigidi, in Ekiti East Local Government Area of Ekiti during the 2026 poll.
The disagreement broke out between party agents, voters and the Presiding Officer at the polling unit
It was gathered that the argument was due to assisted voting, with party agents and some voters insisting that individuals unable to vote independently should be allowed to receive help from a person of their choice or someone they arrived with.
Election officials were engaged in discussions with stakeholders at the polling unit as voting activities continued.
The incident highlights concerns over the interpretation of assisted voting guidelines, an issue that has surfaced in previous Nigerian elections involving elderly voters, persons with disabilities and those requiring support to cast their ballots.
08:50am: Ekiti Deputy Gov Votes at Polling Unit
The Ekiti State Deputy Governor and Deputy Governorship Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Monisade Afuye, has cast her vote at her polling unit in Atiba Aafin Ward 1, Polling Unit 003, Ikere Ekiti at 8:50 a.m.
Speaking with the press after casting her vote, Afuye commended voters for their sense of patriotism in turning out en masse to exercise their civic responsibility during the 2026 Ekiti governorship poll.
The deputy governor also applauded the Independent National Electoral Commission and security agencies for their impartiality, which she said contributed to the peaceful conduct of the election across the state.
She said: “You can see for yourselves how people trooped out to participate in this election. Not only trooping out, but being ready and anxious to participate in the voting. I am indeed impressed with this conduct of our voters.
“I am not using Ikere as the only area of focus now, we are getting the same information from some of our local governments and towns about how our voters are coming out in large numbers. I am happy about this. This shows that the rigorous campaigns that we did yield positive results.
“I have to commend INEC as well and our security agencies. They really prepared for this election. You can see that nobody is being intimidated and I believe if we continue like this, this election may turn out being the best in Ekiti history.”
08:35am: Accreditation and voting commenced at 8:30 a.m. at RA 2, Polling Unit 015, Ado Ekiti LGA, Ekiti State. Electoral activities are underway as voters exercise their democratic rights in the ongoing governorship election.
08:33am: Accreditation, Voting Begins
Accreditation has already begun in many parts across Ekiti for the 2026 poll.
The atmosphere at Bank Road Polling Unit 002, Ward 10 in Ado-Ekiti is calm and orderly as preparations continue ahead of the commencement of voting.
INEC officials are already on ground setting up the polling unit and arranging election materials.
07: 00am: Pan-Atlantic Kompass can confirm that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced the distribution of sensitive and non-sensitive election materials from the Computerised Vehicle Inspection Centre (RAC Centres) to polling units across the wards for the 2026 Ekiti governorship poll.
INEC has been distributing sensitive election materials to local government areas and assured voters of the readiness of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).
According to INEC, a total of 1,059,360 registered voters are eligible to participate in the election, which will be conducted across 2,445 polling units located in 177 wards. Voting is scheduled to commence at 8:30 a.m.
Authorities have also announced a statewide restriction on vehicular movement from midnight until 6:00 p.m. on election day to facilitate the smooth conduct of the exercise.
Security agencies have also deployed personnel and operational assets across the state, particularly in border communities and other strategic locations, to maintain law and order
Here are the 14 candidates on INEC’s list
Biodun Oyebanji (APC)
Governor Biodun Oyebanji, 59, from Ikogosi-Ekiti, is seeking a second term on the platform of the APC.
A political scientist with a master’s degree from the University of Ibadan, Mr Oyebanji previously served as Chief of Staff and Secretary to the State Government during the administration of former Governor Kayode Fayemi.
He won the 2022 governorship election with 187,057 votes and subsequently assumed office as governor. For the 2026 election, he emerged as the APC candidate through a consensus arrangement after his sole challenger, Atinuke Omolayo, withdrew from the race and endorsed him.
Running alongside Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye, Mr Oyebanji is campaigning on continuity, highlighting his administration’s achievements in infrastructure, healthcare, education, agriculture, and investment promotion.
Oluwole Oluyede (PDP)
Oluwole Oluyede, a medical practitioner, businessman, and lately politician, is the governorship candidate of the PDP in the upcoming election following his victory in the party’s primary held in November 2025.
The Ikere-Ekiti-born physician established Bethany Clinic at age 27 before expanding his medical practice across the United States, Canada, Australia, and parts of the Caribbean.
Mr Oluyede is not new to Ekiti’s governorship race as he previously contested in 2022 under the banner of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) before joining the PDP.
Running along with Ayodeji Ogunsakin, Mr Oluyede’s campaign has focused on economic development, healthcare, and job creation.
Oluwadare Bejide (ADC)
Oluwadare Bejide, a 66-year-old lawyer and businessman, is one of the most experienced politicians in the 2026 Ekiti poll.
A native of Ilawe-Ekiti, he began his political career before the creation of Ekiti State and served as the state secretary of the National Republican Convention (NRC) in old Ondo State. He is also a former Nigerian Ambassador to Canada.
Mr Bejide secured ADC’s ticket after defeating four other aspirants in the primary election. Running along with Paul Olowoyeye, Mr Bejide’s campaign focuses on public sector reforms, infrastructure development, agriculture, and improved welfare for civil servants.
Opeyemi Falegan (Accord Party)
Opeyemi Falegan, 41, is a businessman and philanthropist flying the flag of the Accord Party to occupy the Ekiti State governor’s seat after his emergence from the party’s primary election in November.
The Ado-Ekiti-born politician, who is one of the youngest candidates in the race, holds a master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Wales, Cardiff, and is known for his philanthropic activities through the OD Foundation.
Running along with Omoyemi Olaleye, Mr Falegan’s campaign priorities include youth employment, healthcare improvement, economic growth, and social welfare programmes.
Oyebanji Olajuyin (Labour Party)
Oyebanji Olajuyin, a professor, is a 67-year-old medical doctor and former Chief Medical Director of the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital.
The Ikere-Ekiti indigene emerged as the Labour Party’s consensus candidate and is campaigning on healthcare reforms, education, transparent governance, and human capital development.
A 45-year-old Ayokunle Okumade has been chosen to run with Mr Olajuyin to jostle for the governorship seat in Ekiti.
Blessing Abegunde (NNPP)
Blessing Abegunde, 35, is among the youngest candidates in the governorship race. A first-class graduate of electrical and electronics engineering from Bowen University emerged as the NNPP candidate after other aspirants stepped down in his favour.
Running along with Francis Ajayi, his campaign has centered on youth empowerment, entrepreneurship, and economic transformation.
Bidemi Awogbemi (APP)
Bidemi Awogbemi, 36, is among the young contenders in the governorship race seeking to expand the influence of smaller parties in Ekiti politics.
He holds a Master’s in Electrical Engineering from the University of Bridgeport.
With Akinyemi Adewumi as his running mate, Mr Awogbemi’s campaign has been on expanding small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and solving the state’s infrastructural gaps.
Ayodeji Ojo (Action Democratic Party – ADP)
Ayodeji Ojo is a politician from Ikere-Ekiti and has served as the chairman of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) in Ekiti State. The 42-year-old is contesting alongside Itunu Ibitoye, who is 35 years old, as his running mate.
He emerged as the party’s candidate at the end of an internal primary process. His campaign has focused on governance reforms and grassroots development.
Samuel Akande (AAC)
Akande Samuel, 36, is among the youngest candidates in the race seeking to challenge the dominance of the major parties in Ekiti politics. His candidacy reflects the AAC’s emphasis on youth inclusion and alternative governance, embodied by the party’s founder, Omoyele Sowore, an activist, Sahara Reporters publisher, and two-time presidential candidate who is contesting again to challenge President Bola Tinubu in next year’s presidential election.
Mr Akande flies the flag of the party along with Oluwasanmi Fajuyigbe as his running mate. His campaign emphasises youth participation and empowerment and political accountability.
Olaniyi Ayodele (PRP)
Olaniyi Ayodele, is a 49-year-old businessman who is from Ikere-Ekiti. He is the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of WITPARK Homes Ltd, a real estate development company.
Mr Ayodele also served as the Ekiti State Coordinator of the Nigerian Association of Agricultural Produce Dealers, where he worked closely with local farmers and traders.
He is running with Modupe Adebiyi, as his deputy governorship candidate. His campaign has focused on people-centered governance, accountability, and economic development.
Victor Adetunji (Zenith Labour Party – ZLP)
Victor Adetunji, 38, is contesting on the platform of the Zenith Labour Party. His candidacy comes at a challenging moment for the party, which is among those affected by the ongoing legal battle to have it deregistered over electoral non-performance.
Despite the uncertainty, he remains on the ballot and is campaigning on grassroots development and public service reforms.
He is running alongside Adesina Oyeniyi as his deputy governorship candidate.
Olu Omotoso (Action Alliance)
Olu Omotoso, a 64-year-old Information Communication Technology (ICT) expert and politician from Ayede-Ekiti.
Before becoming the AA flagbearer, he served as the state secretary of the party in Oyo State, acted as the national secretary, and held the position of the party’s national public relations officer.
Mr Omotosho is not new to the Ekiti State governorship race. He previously contested for the governorship post in 2022. In his latest attempt to occupy the seat, his campaign is centered on transforming education and healthcare, driving youth inclusion, fostering technological development, strengthening social security, and ensuring transparency in local governance.
Joseph Anifowose (Allied Peoples Movement –APM)
Olanrewaju Anifowose remains on INEC’s final list as the governorship candidate of the APM for Saturday’s poll, although he has publicly withdrawn from the race and endorsed Governor Oyebanji.
