Oyebanji makes history as first Ekiti governor to win consecutive re-election

Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has etched his name into the political history of Ekiti State by becoming the first governor since the state’s creation in 1996 to secure re-election for a second consecutive term.

Oyebanji, former Secretary to the Ekiti State Government and a former Chief of Staff to the governor, achieved the historic feat in Saturday’s governorship election after polling 319,224 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Wole Oluyede of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who garnered 40,543 votes.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Oyebanji winner of the election, with the Chief Returning Officer and Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Prof. Adenike Oladiji, announcing the results in Ado-Ekiti in the early hours of Sunday, June 21, 2026.

The victory marks a significant milestone in Ekiti’s democratic journey, ending nearly three decades of political transitions in which no governor had previously succeeded in winning a second consecutive mandate from the electorate.

Since Ekiti was carved out of the old Ondo State on October 1, 1996, the state has witnessed a succession of administrations under both military and civilian rule. The state’s first democratically elected governor, Niyi Adebayo, served from 1999 to 2003 but was unable to secure a second term.

His successor, Ayo Fayose, governed between 2003 and 2006 before his tenure was cut short. He later returned to office in 2014 for another four-year term, though the two terms were non-consecutive.

Similarly, Segun Oni served between 2007 and 2010, while Kayode Fayemi occupied the Government House from 2010 to 2014 and returned for another non-consecutive term between 2018 and 2022. Neither governor achieved re-election while serving as incumbent.

Ekiti poll: INEC declares Oyebanji winner

Oyebanji, who first won the governorship election in 2022 and assumed office on October 16 of that year, has now broken the jinx by securing a fresh mandate while still serving as governor.

Speaking with journalists after the announcement on Sunday, the APC Collation Agent, Cyril Fasuyi, urged other contenders to join the governor in building a prosperous state.

Fasuyi said: “In every contest there will only be one winner.

“There should be that sportsmanship spirit with all of them.

“I think nobody is a loser; we understand it’s just for everybody to come on board to support the governor in his developmental drive.”