Voters across Ekiti State are heading to the polls today to choose the governor who will lead the state for the next four years in a closely watched off-cycle election that could reshape the state’s political history.
The election will be conducted across 2,445 polling units located within the state’s 177 wards and 16 local government areas.
Voting commenced as early as 8:00 a.m. in many polling units, with impressive turnout recorded across polling units.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials arrived promptly with sensitive and non-sensitive materials, and the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) is being deployed for accreditation and transmission of results.
A total of 14 candidates are contesting the governorship election, with incumbent Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC) seeking a fresh mandate ahead of the expiration of his first term in October.
Other candidates in the race include Oluwole Oluyede of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Oluwadare Bejide of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Oyebanji Olajuyin of the Labour Party (LP), Blessing Abegunde of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Samuel Akande of the African Action Congress (AAC), Ayodeji Ojo of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Opeyemi Felegan of Accord, Joseph Anifowose of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Bidemi Awogbemi of the Action Peoples Party (APP), Olaniyi Ayodele of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Victor Adetunji of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Olu Omotosho of the Action Alliance (AA), and Ayodele Osinkolu of the Young Progressives Party (YPP).
Despite the large number of contestants, political observers view the election largely as a contest between Governor Oyebanji and PDP candidate Oluyede.
According to INEC figures, Ekiti State has 1,059,360 registered voters, representing an increase from the 989,224 recorded in 2022 and 909,585 in 2018. Of that number, 1,028,929 voters have collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and are eligible to participate in today’s exercise.
Local and international observers will monitor the election, with civil society organisations calling on voters to participate actively in the democratic process.
Security agencies have also intensified preparations to guarantee a peaceful electoral process.
Beyond determining the state’s next governor, the election is expected to provide an important assessment of INEC’s readiness ahead of the 2027 general election.
It is also the first major electoral exercise to be conducted under the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, signed into law by President Bola Tinubu in February.
The election could also produce a historic outcome. Since the creation of Ekiti State in 1996, no governor has successfully won re-election and served two consecutive terms in office.
Although former governors Ayo Fayose and Kayode Fayemi each returned to office for second tenures after leaving power, neither governed for two uninterrupted terms.
