2026 Guber: Oyebanji Emerges Ekiti APC Candidate

Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji has officially emerged as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the June 20, 2026, governorship election in the state.

Oyebanji’s emergence followed his affirmation by 885 delegates, elected last Saturday across the 177 wards in the state’s 16 local government areas.

The affirmation was made through a popular voice vote, which was echoed by delegates, including Senate Leader Michael Opeyemi Bamidele and the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye.

The adoption of the incumbent governor, held at the Ekiti State Pavilion, was carried out by consensus. It was kicked off by the Senator representing Ekiti Central, Opeyemi Bamidele, who moved the motion to nominate and adopt Oyebanji as the party’s consensus candidate, which Speaker Aribasoye seconded.

In his opening address, the governor of Kogi State, Ahmed Usman Ododo, said the consensus mode adopted was the party’s decision.

Odo, who doubles as Chairman of Affirmation Congress Committee, said, “ I can inform this gathering that the decision by our great party to adopt Oyebanji is not a product of imposition, but a way to allow the good works that the APC government in Ekiti has been doing, and so far recorded, to continue”, he said.

The National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Prof Nentawe Yilwatda, on Sunday evening inaugurated an 11-man Consensus Committee for the party’s primary in the Ekiti election, chaired by Kogi State Governor Ododo and his Edo state counterpart, Monday Okpebholo, as deputy.

Speaking at the party’s secretariat in Ado-Ekiti on Sunday, Nentawe said the affirmation would be made by the 885 delegates from the state’s 16 local government areas.

Nentawe, represented by APC Deputy National Organising Secretary, Nze Chidi Duru, asked the delegates to embrace peace before and during the consensus election.

In his acceptance speech, Oyebanji thanked President Bola Tinubu and other party leaders, especially the Senate Leader and Ekiti national assembly caucus, former state governors, for their support.

He also extended an olive branch to Kayode Ojo and other former aspirants, saying that with unity, they can achieve many enviable progresses.

“I hereby accept this honour to fly the flag of our great party in next year’s gubernatorial election, which is coming up in the state, and I will never take this honour for granted.

“This is historic, in that this is the first time any ruling party has done this for any of its governors in power.

“Be assured that this gesture will not go unappreciated. To my opponents in the race, I want you to know that there is no victor nor vanquished. We are in the race together, and the party belongs to all of us.

“Please, let’s come together to lift Ekiti, as I am ready to embrace everyone, without segregation. I plead that all forms of character assassination, cyber bullying, and abuses on social media should stop”, he said.