2026 Ekiti Guber Race: Meet the Candidates and Their Parties

Ekiti State residents head to the polls today, June 20, 2026, to elect their next governor in an off-cycle election organized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The governorship election will be held across the 16 local government areas in the state.

INEC disclosed that 1.02 million registered voters across 2,445 polling units will determine the outcome of today’s election, with fourteen candidates battling for the highest political office in Ekiti State.

The incumbent, Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who is seeking a second term in office, will be seeking to retain his mandate in today’s polls.

If re-elected, Oyebanji would become the first governor in Ekiti’s history to win two consecutive terms.

Oyebanji enters the poll as a leading candidate. He won the 2022 governorship election with 187,057 votes.

The APC controls all nine National Assembly seats, all 26 seats in the State House of Assembly, all 16 local government councils, and 22 Local Council Development Areas.

However, some internal party tensions linger following the primaries, in which several incumbent lawmakers lost their tickets.

ADC – Dare Bejide

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) is fielding a former Secretary to the State Government and ex-Nigerian Ambassador to Canada, Dare Babajide, as its candidate for today’s election.

He enjoys the backing of several opposition heavyweights, including former Deputy Governor Kolapo Olusola-Eleka, former Commissioner for Information Akin Omole, and businessman Funsho Ayeni.

PDP – Wole Oluyede

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) goes into the contest with Dr. Wole Oluyede as its candidate.

Oluyede is from Ikere-Ekiti in the Ekiti South Senatorial District. His candidacy carries a regional appeal as no governor has emerged from Ekiti South since the state’s creation, and his hometown remains one of the largest voting centres in the state.

Other candidates

Other candidates will also be on the ballot. They are: 

Akande Oluwasegun Samuel (AAC), 

Opeyemi Falegan (Accord), 

Ayodeji Ojo (ADP), 

Bidemi Olaiya Awogbemi (APP), 

Oyebanji Ikusayedegbe Olajuyin (Labour Party), 

Abegunde Ayobami Blessing (NNPP),

 Olaniyi Olanrewaju Ayodele (PRP), 

Owoola Daramola (YPP), 

Olu Omotoso (AA), and 

Victor Damilola Adetunji (ZLP).

Joseph Anifowose of the Allied Peoples Movement, APM, has withdrawn and endorsed Oyebanji, citing the governor’s record on infrastructure and social services.