The incumbent governor and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Biodun Oyebanji, has been returned to the highest political office in Ekiti to pilot the affairs of the state for another four years.

• 2022 vs 2026: Oyebanji's 84.95% of total valid votes
• Oyebanji's cross-party alliance
• After victory, Oyebanji speaks on journey ahead
• BREAKDOWN: How Oyebanji won 16 LGAs

Oyebanji, who coasted home to victory in the just-concluded gubernatorial election in the state, secured the consents of the most people who participated in the poll.

Tribune Online reports that INEC's Chief Returning Officer and Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), Professor Adenike Oladiji, who announced the final results and made declarations around 3am Sunday morning, said Oyebanji polled a total of 319,224 votes out of a total of 375,777 valid votes.

On the other hand, his distant rival, the candidate of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Wole Oluyede, whom Tribune Online reports had earlier described the process as "useless," polled 40,543 votes, while Dare Bejide of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), who alleged vote-buying and manipulation in the early hours of the poll, secured 12,872 votes.

2022 vs 2026: Oyebanji's 84.95% of total valid votes

Unlike 2022, when the incumbent governor secured 15 out of 16 local governments and emerged victorious with fewer votes, the 2026 election almost doubled the votes secured by the APC standard-bearer.

Meanwhile, Oyebanji was declared the winner in 2022 after polling 187,057 votes against former Governor Segun Oni of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), who secured 82,211 votes, and Bisi Kolawole of the PDP, who got 67,457 votes.

In 2022, Oyebanji got 53.16 percent of the total valid votes, while his close contenders, Oni and Kolawole, got 23.36 percent and 19.17 percent, respectively. However, in 2026, Oyebanji secured 84.95% of the total votes, while his distant runner-up, Oluyede of the PDP, got 10.79%, and Bejide of the ADC secured just 3.43%.

With a total of 351,865 valid votes in 2022 and 375,777 in 2026, the recent poll recorded an increase of 23,912 valid votes and 21,356 new voters in four years. However, rejected votes in 2026 (6,332) were reduced by 2,556 compared to 2022, when 8,888 votes were rejected.

Oyebanji's cross-party alliance

While Oyebanji, in 2022, contested against Segun Oni, a former governor with strong public acceptance, and Bisi Kolawole, a candidate anointed by former governor Ayodele Fayose, the 2026 cycle introduced a different approach into the race.

While the internal crisis apparently affected the chances of the PDP, Oyebanji was able to secure the support of stakeholders across the fence of the political party.

Before the poll, Tribune Online reports that a PDP chieftain and former governor, Ayodele Fayose, had openly expressed his support for Oyebanji's re-election despite his party presenting a candidate in the poll.

""I am a member of the PDP, and I remain so. We all knew the party we belonged to. Whether we support him or not, Oyebanji will win, and APC will be the greatest beneficiary. I have built an image in this state, and I have my cult-like supporters. They should all vote for this governor.

"As I am supporting Governor Oyebanji, I am also supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I am not doing this for fun. I have been his fan for a long time. He remains the most prominent and most beneficial leader in the Yoruba race. All lovers of Yoruba should support this president," Fayose said.

Likewise, Fayose on Saturday, while speaking to Tribune Online correspondents among other journalists at his polling unit, predicted victory for the sitting governor, saying Oyebanji has already won the election.

Like Fayose, the 2022 SDP candidate who gave Oyebanji a tough electioneering battle also endorsed the APC candidate for the 2026 poll.

In fact, Tribune Online reports that following his defection to the APC in January 2026, Oni and his wife, Olukemi, joined Oyebanji on his official campaign tours.

Segun Oni's backing was part of an unprecedented alignment where all living former civilian governors of Ekiti State, including Adeniyi Adebayo, Ayo Fayose, and Kayode Fayemi, united behind the incumbent APC governor.

After victory, Oyebanji speaks on journey ahead

Speaking shortly after he was declared winner of Saturday's governorship election, the governor-elect expressed gratitude to the people of the state for the confidence reposed in his administration, saying the outcome of the poll had placed a greater responsibility on his shoulders.

Oyebanji said he was fully aware of the expectations that accompany the overwhelming mandate given to him by Ekiti voters, assuring residents that his administration would remain committed to delivering quality governance and improving the welfare of the people.

"I have a proper understanding of the responsibility that this victory has placed on my shoulders. It is a responsibility of service , service to the people of Ekiti State. I want to assure our people that we will continue to serve them with courage, compassion, humility, and the fear of God," he said.

BREAKDOWN: How Oyebanji won 16 LGAs

Going by the official results announced by the electoral umpire, the governor won his re-election by emerging victorious in all the 16 local government areas of the state.

Breaking down of Ekiti LGAs results:

EMURE LG

ADC-732

APC-14,325

PDP-851

EFON LG

ADC-201

APC-8,742

PDP-2051

IJERO LG

ADC-2,026

APC-25,506

PDP-2,479

IKERE LG

ADC-245

APC-11,116

PDP-9,892

EKITI SOUTH WEST LG

ADC-1,076

APC-14,705

PDP-1,800

IDO-OSI LG

ADC-561

APC-1,7901

PDP-1,449

EKITI WEST LG

ADC-674

APC-28,258

PDP-3,644

ADO LG

ADC-1,054

APC-38,026

PDP-3,817

ILEJEMEJE L.G

ADC-579

APC-8,984

PDP-1,243

ISE ORUN L.G

ADC-365

APC-12,908

PDP-1,627

OYE L.G

ADC-998

APC-18,975

PDP-2,891

GBONYIN -AYEKIRE L.G

ADC-314

APC‐17,133

PDP-1,563

IKOLE L.G

ADC-812

APC-26,508

PDP-750

IREPODUN/IFELODUN L.G

ADC-511

APC-29,278

PDP-2,119

EKITI EAST L.G

ADC-1,730

APC-26,359

PDP-2,795

MOBA L.G

ADC-994

APC-20,500

PDP-1,572

TOTAL

APC - 319,224

PDP - 40,543

ADC - 12,872

Registered Voters - 1,059,360

PVC collection : 1,028,929

Total accredited voters: 384,940

Total valid votes: 375,777

Total rejected votes: 6332

Total votes cast: 382,109

Accord: 564

AA:126

AAC:195

ADC:12872

ADP:1269

APC: 319,224

APP:61

APM:55

LP:276

NNPP:35

PDP:40543

PRP:163

SDP:179

YPP:98

ZLP:113