WHEN the people of Ekiti State went to the poll on June 20, 2026, there was little doubt about who would emerge victorious. The real question was not whether Governor Biodun Oyebanji (BAO) would win re-election, but by what margin.
IN the weeks preceding the election, political observers, civil society groups and even many opposition figures privately acknowledged that the incumbent had established himself as the overwhelming favourite. The campaigns were, therefore largely defined by debates over the likely margin of victory rather than the identity of the eventual winner.
BY the time the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) concluded the collation of results, the answer had become emphatic. Oyebanji not only won, he delivered one of the most dominant electoral performances in Ekiti’s political history.
THE governor secured 319,224 votes, more than seven times the 40,543 votes obtained by his closest challenger, Wole Oluyede of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). More remarkably, he swept all 16 local government areas and all 177 wards in the state, achieving a level of electoral dominance rarely witnessed in contemporary Nigerian politics. Indeed, the people of Ekiti State spoke with one voice through the democratic process. The re-election of Governor Oyebanji reflects the trust and confidence they have in his leadership, his development agenda and his commitment to improving the lives of the people.
THE most significant story of the 2026 Ekiti governorship election may not be the governor’s landslide victory but the alarming level of voter apathy. According to official figures , only 36.07 per cent of the state’s 1,059,360 registered voters participated in the election. More than 63 per cent of registered voters stayed away from the polls. In practical terms, the election was decided by a minority of registered voters, even though the outcome itself was decisive among those who participated.
ACROSS many polling units, observers reported a noticeable demographic trend: elderly voters significantly outnumbered younger participants, a development that poses a threat to the country’s democracy.
FOR a governor who had already won comfortably in 2022, the scale of improvement was remarkable. Rather than merely retaining his previous support base, Oyebanji substantially exceeded his earlier electoral performance, demonstrating that his political appeal had expanded during his first term in office.
GOVERNOR Oyebanji’s re-election represents a significant milestone in the political history of Ekiti State. Since the state’s creation in 1996, its governorship elections have been characterised by intense political competition, with changes in leadership occurring through electoral contests, judicial rulings and other democratic processes.
MANY former governors, despite their contributions to the state’s development, were unable to secure uninterrupted continuity in office, as political transitions often resulted in leadership changes after a single tenure or following post-election legal disputes. Against this backdrop, Governor Oyebanji’s successful return to office through the ballot is a remarkable democratic achievement worthy of recognition.
UNLIKE many governors who spend significant portions of their tenure battling political opponents, Oyebanji cultivated relationships across party lines, traditional institutions, civil society groups and community leaders. His administration consistently projected an image of inclusiveness and political accommodation, reducing the intensity of partisan hostility that often characterises Nigerian politics.
THE result also marked a historic milestone. Oyebanji became the first incumbent governor to secure re-election since Ekiti State was created in 1996, breaking a political pattern that had long defined the state as one of Nigeria’s most electorally volatile territories. His victory across the 16 local government areas reflected both his popularity and the confidence reposed in him by the electorate.
THE HOPE commends the security agencies, the electorate, INEC, traditional rulers, political stakeholders and election observers for their collective efforts in ensuring a peaceful, transparent and credible electoral process. We, however, appeal to the electorate to show greater interest in future elections by participating in the electoral process, which is their civic responsibility, in order to curb voter apathy.
WE also urge INEC to intensify public enlightenment on the importance of voting, address the areas where complaints were recorded, and make the necessary adjustments to ensure that similar challenges do not recur as the country prepares for the Osun State governorship election.
THE HOPE congratulates Governor Oyebanji on his historic re-election, which is a clear demonstration of the electorate’s overwhelming support. We urge him to reciprocate this confidence by delivering more developmental projects through people-oriented policies.
WE equally urge the Ekiti State Governor to remain committed to delivering more dividends of democracy to the people, as promised during his second-term campaign.
THE task before Governor Oyebanji is to translate the mandate given to him into measurable progress and rekindle public faith in the democratic process. We hope that this renewed mandate will accelerate economic growth, deepen infrastructural development, expand youth empowerment initiatives, advance education and improve the overall welfare of the people of Ekiti State.