APC candidate secures 319,224 votes to defeat PDP and ADC rivals as observers note peaceful poll amid BVAS glitches and irregularity claims.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the 2026 Ekiti State governorship election, returning him for another term in office.

The Returning Officer, Prof. Adenike Oladiji, announced the final results in the early hours of Sunday, stating that Oyebanji polled a commanding 319,224 votes across the state’s 16 local government areas.

According to the official figures, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Oluwole Oluyede, garnered 40,543 votes, while Dare Bejide of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) secured 12,872 votes.

INEC disclosed that 384,940 voters were accredited for the election, with 375,777 valid votes recorded. A total of 6,332 votes were rejected, bringing the overall votes cast to 382,109.

The election, held on Saturday, was largely peaceful, though it was not without challenges. Reports of technical issues with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) surfaced in some areas, alongside allegations of voter intimidation and irregularities raised by opposition parties.

PDP candidate Oluyede criticised the process, alleging that BVAS malfunctions in parts of Ikere Local Government Area prevented many voters from casting their ballots. He also claimed incidents of harassment and intimidation.

Similarly, ADC candidate Bejide raised concerns over irregularities during the exercise.

However, Governor Oyebanji dismissed the allegations, insisting that claims of malpractice must be backed by verifiable evidence. He described the election as satisfactory and urged citizens to participate peacefully.

INEC reported that all 2,445 polling units opened for voting, with over 92 per cent commencing operations on time. While a small number experienced delays, voting was underway statewide before mid-morning.

Voting concluded in most polling units before 3 p.m., followed by sorting and counting. In a few locations, delays extended voting hours, occasionally leading to tensions among party agents and supporters, which security personnel promptly contained.

Security agencies, led by the Nigeria Police Force, maintained a strong presence throughout the state. The Commissioner of Police in charge of the election, CP Abayomi Shogunle, confirmed that no incidents of vote-buying were officially reported.

Election observers commended the peaceful conduct and voter turnout but highlighted procedural concerns. Yiaga Africa pointed to inconsistencies between ballot papers, result sheets, and INEC’s list of candidates, warning that such discrepancies could affect collation and transparency.

INEC clarified that the inclusion of additional parties on the ballot followed court rulings and administrative adjustments, aimed at avoiding the cost of reprinting materials.

Despite these concerns, observers, including the Nigerian Bar Association, described the process as generally orderly, while civic groups praised the resilience of voters, particularly women, who turned out in significant numbers.

With the official declaration, Oyebanji’s victory concludes a closely watched contest and secures him a renewed mandate to govern Ekiti State.