Politics
Ekiti 2026: Oyebanji’s Re-Election Already Won, Says APC Chairman, Yilwatda, Governors
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The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof Nentawe Yilwatda, has expressed confidence that the re-election of Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji is a done deal on the strength of his record of performance and the massive support he enjoys from the people of the state.
The APC National Chairman emphasized that the national leadership of the party is proud of what Governor Oyebanji has done and achieved in three and a half years in office and would give him an unflinching support to win another term in office for the benefit of Ekiti people and for continuity of good governance being enjoyed in the state.
Prof Yilwatda, who spoke at the Ekiti State APC/BAO Governorship Campaign Flag-Off that was attended by a mammoth crowd at the Ekiti Parapo Pavilion in Ado Ekiti, the state capital on Monday, said other political parties and their governorship candidates are no match for the ruling party and Governor Oyebanji who are poised to record an unprecedented victory at the election scheduled for June 20.
The National Chairman’s confidence of victory for Governor Oyebanji was also echoed by the Progressives Governors’ Forum (PGF), a body of governors elected on the platform of the party led by Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma and the National Campaign Council led by Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani.
All former Ekiti State governors, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, Chief Ayodele Fayose, Chief Segun Oni and Dr Kayode Fayemi also threw their weight behind the re-election of Governor Oyebanji urging the people of the state to massively cast their votes for him and his Deputy, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye for the good works to continue.
Apparently impressed by the track record of Governor Oyebanji, the APC National Chairman, Prof Yilwatda requested Governor Oyebanji , also known as BAO to come out and “take a bow” before the people of Ekiti State on each sector where he had made impact on governance, turning around the fortunes of the state and serving as a unifier and rallying point for all people in the state irrespective of their ethnic, cultural, religious and political affiliations.
Prof Yilwatda said: “For bringing all the people of the state together, I want you Mr Governor to take a bow. For bringing people of different ethnic groups in Ekiti like Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, Ebira, Urhobo and other ethnic nationalities and ensuring unity in your state, please take a bow.
“For building roads, bridges, hospitals, health centres, schools and other major infrastructures across the state, take a bow. In fact, BAO (Oyebanji) supports agriculture and his support for agriculture makes it more easy for Ekiti people to be pounding yam and eating pounded yam and this has guaranteed food security, take a bow.
“Ekiti is one of the most secure states in Nigeria. BAO works very hard to ensure security of lives and property, take a bow. On behalf of the National Working Committee and APC members nationwide, we stand with you today to say that this election is already won because all other parties na so-so yeye, all other candidates na so-so yeye.
“Prepare pounded yam for your swearing-in because the election is already won. Ekiti people on election day, wear your canvass (trainers), wear your jeans go out and vote for BAO.”
Speaking for the governors, the Chairman of APC Governors’ Forum, Governor Hope Uzodinma, said the fact that the then fragmented Ekiti is now solidly united, was suffice for Oyebanji to be reelected, assuring that the governor won’t disappoint in terms of delivery and display of humility.
“If you vote for Governor Oyebanji, you have voted for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He is addressing the crises of food insecurity, infrastructure deficit, unemployment, insecurity and others. Vote for him, he won’t let you down. “
In his address, Kaduna State Governor and Chairman, APC National Campaign Committee for Ekiti election, Senator Uba Sani, was upbeat that the party will triumph in the governorship poll on the strength of Oyebanji’s exhilarating performance and acceptability across the board.
Sani described Ekiti as a state of high intellectual hub and integrity, who requires being governed by people with cognitive power and high mental ability to be able to sail the ship to a safe shore, assuring that the coming election is not going to be personality clashes.
The Kaduna governor said he was proud to fraternise with Oyebanji and loudly campaign for his reelection, having constructed over 350 kilometres of roads across the 16 local governments, while embarking on series of human-friendly programmes to build the enormous resources available to Ekiti .
The APC governor, who described the Oyebanji as one of the best governors in the country, said he was happy at Oyebanji’s record of achievements especialy the remodeling of all the primary healthcare centres and public schools in the state, thereby making lives more rewarding for the people.
“This is the time to move forward, not to move backward. Vote for continuity, vote for prosperity, vote for stability and development. Let your vote resonate round the country. We will engage every community, every individual, listen to them and mobilise for victory. “
In his speech, Oyebanji who told the cheering crowd that he has fulfilled the social contract he signed with the people in 2022, praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for exhibiting special interest for the development of the state and its people .
In his short speech, Oyebanji said: “We were here in 2022 to sign a contract with you. We thank God that we have been able to fulfil all these contracts. But all these were made possible because President Tinubu takes special interest in this state.
“In the 29 years of Ekiti creation, no President has been fair to Ekiti like President Tinubu. He reconstructed Ado-Akure road, Ado-Ifaki road and the notorious Ado-Aramoko road had been awarded for reconstruction among other projects.
“The way to repay him is to come out on June 20 and test the microphone by giving us here in Ekiti a minimum of 500,000 votes, so that the good jobs we are doing can continue”.
The Chairman of the 2026 Ekiti Campaign Council and the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, said Oyebanji has been able to make remarkable difference in the lives of the people, because he perfectly understands the language of development.
Bamidele, who aptly branded Oyebanji as a round peg in a round hole, assured Ekiti populace that the election will be based on constructive and intellectual engagements, not the the one that will be replete with hate speeches and morbid politicking.
“We have been able to progress as a people because we have a governor who understands the language of development. A round peg, in a round hole. We are proud of him. He is a unifier. A humble leader who can make us better if given the opportunity”.
Other dignitaries at the event were: Ekiti State First Lady, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji, National Vice Chairman of the APC, Southwest, Isaac Kekemeke, Director General, Ekiti State Governorship Campaign Council, Senator Cyril Fasuyi, former Governors Kayode Fayemi, Ayo Fayose, Otunba Niyi Adebayo and Segun Oni, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, Hon Femi Bamisile, Senator Ayo Arise, Senator Dayo Adeyeye, Hon Oyetunde Ojo, members of the National and State Assemblies and other high profile APC members.
Politics
Peter Obi advises Tinubu to consider quitting like UK PM
The Nigerian Democratic Congress, NDC, Presidential Candidate for the 2027 election, Peter Obi, has advised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to consider resigning his position, having failed woefully in discharging most of his campaign promises. And having failed to improve the standard of living of the citizens.
Reacting to the announcement of the British Prime Minister’s resignation, which is not unconnected with the complaints of British citizens about their deteriorating standard of living under his watch, Obi, in a tweet he titled “owning up to Leadership Failures and Political Responsibility”, advised Tinubu to emulate the British PM and save the country from the worsening economic situation.
Writing on his X handle, the 2023 Labour Party presidential flagbearer said, “This morning, I listened to the British Prime Minister’s speech announcing his planned resignation in July. As a keen observer of global politics, my primary interest lies in examining what successful nations do right and the structural factors that cause others to lag or struggle with governance and development.
“The Prime Minister’s planned resignation comes amid mounting public frustration over a stagnant economy, a worsening cost-of-living crisis, and a perceived failure to honour key campaign pledges.
“Looking inward in our dear country, we can recall our own situation. Before 2015, our President on several occasions championed the call for the then President Goodluck Jonathan to resign over economic hardship and insecurity affecting Nigerians. During the Chibok school kidnapping incident, he demanded the immediate resignation of President Jonathan, arguing that the government had failed in its most fundamental duty of protecting lives.
“During the 2023 election campaign, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu made several promises, including improved electricity supply. He also challenged the electorate not to vote for him for a second term if he failed to deliver on those commitments—particularly in providing stable power, fighting corruption, and improving the welfare of Nigerians.
“At present, however, these conditions have worsened. Electricity supply remains unreliable, insecurity has intensified in many areas, including kidnappings, and economic hardship has deepened rather than eased. Similar concerns are reflected across other critical sectors such as security, infrastructure, transportation, and anti-corruption efforts, all of which have regressed. We are in the worst possible condition.
“I, therefore, join Nigerians of goodwill in calling for the resignation of the President over monumental failure in governance. Such a gesture would help enthrone a political culture rooted in accountability and responsibility, rather than further entrenching impunity. It would also send a powerful message that public office is a sacred trust, not an entitlement, and help build a society in which future leaders understand that failure carries consequences. Only by ending the culture of impunity can we secure a better future for the society our children will inherit in a New Nigeria that is possible”
Politics
Enugu North by-election: APC candidate emerges winner
Chief Ikeje Asogwa, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has emerged the winner of the June 20, 2026 Enugu North Senatorial District by-election.
Asogwa polled 162,360 votes to defeat his closest rival, Chief Nestor Ezeme of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who scored 9,299 votes.
The by-election was conducted to replace late Senator Okey Ezea, who was representing the district at the time he died on November 18, 2025, at the age of 62.
Announcing the result on Sunday in Nsukka, the Returning Officer of the election, Prof Christian Ezeibe, the Dean, Department of Students Affairs at University of Nigeria Nsukka, UNN, said Asogwa scored the highest votes in the election to emerge the winner.
“Asogwa having satisfied the requirements of the law in this election is hereby declared the winner and is returned.
“I thank you all for your cooperation, support and maturity that made the by-election a success,” he said.
According to Ezeibe, the number of registered voters in Enugu North Senatorial District was 727, 340 while 184,094 were accredited in the election.
A breakdown of the result scored by five other candidates showed that Chika Idoko Emmanuel of the African Democratic Party, ADC, polled 1,676 votes while Kingsley Aneke of Boot Party, BP, got 1607 votes.
Other candidates are Ejike Simon Eze of Labour Party, LP, 1,027 votes, OssElias Okwudiri Ossai of the Nigerian Democratic Congress, NDC, 3,129 votes and Charles Ugochukwu of the Peoples Redemption Party, PRP, 667 votes.
In his acceptance speech, Asogwa, the senator elect, said the outcome reflected the overwhelming support of the residents of the six local government areas that made up the Enugu North Senatorial Zone.
He promised to give the senatorial zone quality and effective representation to justify the massive support and confidence residents had expressed through their votes.
Politics
Official: INEC declares Oyebanji winner of Ekiti 2026 Governorship Election
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Biodun Oyebanji, as the winner of the 2026 Ekiti State governorship election.
The Returning Officer for the Ekiti State governorship election, Adenike Oladiji, who declared the results at about 3:13 a.m. on Sunday, said that Oyebanji polled 319,224 votes.
Oladiji, a professor and Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, said that the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Oluwole Oluyede, scored 40,543 votes, while Dare Bejide of the African Democratic Party (ADP) polled 12,872 votes.
According to her, a total of 384,940 voters were accredited for the election, with 375,777 valid votes, 6,332 rejected votes, and total votes cast.
Voting, which began at about 8:31 a.m, ended officially at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, with more than 300,000 voters casting their ballots.
INEC has declared Biodun Oyebanji of the APC as the winner of the 2026 Ekiti State governorship election.
The Returning Officer for the election, Professor Adenike Oladiji, said the incumbent governor polled 319,224 votes.
She also said that while the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Oluwole Oluyede, scored 40,543 votes, Dare Bejide of the African Democratic Party (ADP) polled 12,872 votes.
2:25 a.m.
Following the conclusion of the collation of results from the 16 LGAs, the Returning Officer for the Ekiti State governorship election and Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Professor Adenike Oladiji, says that the results will be transferred to the Form EC8D.
2:22 a.m.
Moba LGA
ADC- 994
APC – 20,500
PDP – 1,572
2:19 a.m.
Ekiti East
ADC- 1,730
APC – 26,359
PDP – 2,795
2:15 a.m.
Irepodun/Ifelodun LGA
ADC- 511
APC – 29,278
PDP – 2,119
The collation officer said that the result from one of the polling units was cancelled due to over-voting.
2:08 a.m.
Ikole LGA
ADC- 812
APC – 26,508
PDP – 750
2:04 a.m.
Aiyekire (Gbonyin) LGA
ADC- 314
APC – 17,133
PDP – 1,563
1:52 a.m.
Oye LGA
ADC- 998
APC – 18,975
PDP – 2,891
1:49 a.m.
Ise/Orun LGA
ADC- 365
APC – 12,908
PDP – 1,627
1:40 a.m.
Ilejemeje LGA
ADC- 579
APC – 8,984
PDP – 1,243
1:37 a.m.
Ado Ekiti LGA
ADC- 1,054
APC – 38,026
PDP – 3,817
1:31 a.m.
Ekiti West LGA
ADC- 674
APC – 28,258
PDP – 3,644
1:26 a.m.
Ido-Osi LGA
ADC- 561
APC – 17,901
PDP – 1,449
1:22 a.m.
Ekiti South-West LGA
ADC- 1,076
APC – 14,705
PDP – 1,800
1:13 a.m.
Ikere LGA
ADC- 245
APC – 11,116
PDP – 9,892
1:12 a.m.
Ijero LGA
ADC- 2,026
APC – 25,506
PDP – 2,479
1 a.m.
Efon LGA
ADC- 201
APC – 8,742
PDP – 2051
12:59 a.m.
Emure LGA
ADC – 732
APC – 14,325
PDP – 851
12:57 a.m. The announcement of results from the LGAs has begun.
12:37 a.m. The Returning Officer for the Ekiti State governorship election is the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Professor Adenike Oladiji.
12:35 a.m. INEC has begun the collation of results of the Ekiti State governorship election. The exercise is taking place in Ado Ekiti, the state capital.
11:51 p.m. As of 11:50 p.m., 97.18 per cent of the Ekiti State governorship election results have been uploaded on the INEC IReV portal. Results have been submitted from 2,376 out of 2,445 polling units.
9:27 p.m. The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ekiti State, Bunmi Omoseyindemi, has said that the official collation of the governorship election results from the LGAs will commence at 10 p.m. on Saturday.
9:21 p.m. The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Bunmi Omoseyindemi, has explained that 19 political parties were contained in the ballot paper for the Ekiti election to avoid the financial cost of printing fresh ballot papers due to court orders.
8:32 p.m. Shogunle also says one person was arrested for ballot box snatching during the election.
8:23 p.m. Commissioner of Police in charge of security for the Ekiti State governorship election, Abayomi Shogunle, says the police have not received any report of vote buying in the exercise so far.
7:59 p.m. Yiaga Africa’s Samson Itodo says 24 incidents of violence were reported across 10 local government areas during the ongoing Ekiti State governorship election.
4:35 p.m. INEC has commenced the upload of polling unit results from the Ekiti State governorship election to its Result Viewing Portal (IReV), after the official close of voting.
As of 6p.m. on Saturday, the commission had uploaded 846 results out of the 2,445 expected polling unit results, representing 34.60 per cent of the total.
4:30 p.m. INEC says that all 2,445 PUs were successfully opened for the governorship election earlier in the day. According to the body, 2,257 PUs (92.31 per cent) opened on schedule before 8:30 a.m, while 188 PUs (7.69 per cent) experienced minor delays but commenced voting before 10:30 a.m.
4 p.m. Voting was still ongoing as of 4 p.m. at Polling Unit 006, where the PDP candidate cast his vote, as some of the voters insisted that they must exercise their civic responsibility.
3:35 p.m. Channels Television correspondent provides an update on the election as collation begins at different polling units in the state.
3:40 p.m. Chairman of the Ekiti All Progressives Congress (APC) Campaign Organisation and Governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani, has said that the outcome of today’s governorship election will be a referendum on the performance of the President Bola Tinubu government, its acceptance, and the popularity of the party in Ekiti State.
3:13 p.m. Yiaga Africa urges citizens and stakeholders to keep a close eye on the preparedness, transparency, and neutrality in the Ekiti State governorship election.
2:43 p.m. 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.
2:37 p.m. 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.
1:50 p.m. Social Democratic Party candidate Olugbenga Obafemi has cast his vote in Ekiti governorshjip election.
12:31 p.m. Candidate of the APC and incumbent governor Oyebanji has dismissed allegations of voter harassment and intimidation raised by the PDP’s Oluyede, describing the conduct of the election as satisfactory.
Speaking with journalists after casting his vote at Polling Unit 003, Okelele, Ikogosi-Ekiti in Ekiti West Local Government Area, the governor, who was accompanied by his wife, Olayemi, said anyone making such allegations must provide evidence to substantiate their claims.
He urged eligible voters who had yet to vote to come out and discharge their civic responsibility peacefully.
11:05 A voter and resident of Ikogosi, Fatokun Babatunde, commends INEC and security agencies for the peaceful and orderly conduct of the election process so far.
He also urges the people of Ekiti State to reject violence and uphold peace, stressing that despite political differences, they remain one people united by a common heritage and shared future.
10:19 a.m. Polling Unit 003 in Ikogosi, Ekiti West Local Government Area, awaits the arrival of the APC governorship candidate and incumbent governor, Biodun Oyebanji, who is expected to cast his ballot shortly.
Channels TV correspondent Eyitope Kuteyi reports a surging crowd at the polling unit, alongside a heavy security presence comprising personnel of the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
10:10 a.m. Africa Democratic Congress candidate Dare Bejide has cast his vote in the ongoing Ekiti State governorship election.
Bejide, however, raised concerns about alleged vote buying
10 a.m. An observer and First Vice President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Sebastian Anyia, says the election process has so far been peaceful and orderly, with voter turnout proving encouraging.
He expresses optimism that the smooth conduct witnessed will be sustained across all 16 local government areas until the conclusion of the exercise.
9:58 a.m. The PDP governorship candidate, Oluwole Oluyede, has cast his vote in the ongoing Ekiti State governorship election.
He voted in polling unit 006 in Ugele/Arokun ward, Ikere LGA.
Oluwole expressed dissatisfaction with the conduct of the exercise, saying that most voters at his polling unit had yet to cast their votes due to a problem with the BVAS.
9:56 a.m. Peoples Democratic Party candidate Oluwole Oluyede has arrived at his polling unit in Ikere LGA to ast his vote in the ongoing Ekiti State governorship election.
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