Oyebanji Boasts of Clean Sweep, Corrected as Opposition Secures One Ward

Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has declared that he warned opposition parties they would not win a single ward in the state, following his decisive victory in Saturday’s governorship election, though he was later corrected that the opposition secured one ward.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced Oyebanji, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the winner of the poll in the early hours of Sunday after the collation of results across the state.

Returning Officer and Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Professor Adenike Oladiji, confirmed that the governor met all constitutional requirements to be returned elected.

According to the official results, Oyebanji secured a total of 319,224 votes across the 16 local government areas of Ekiti State. His closest rival, Olumayokun Oluyede of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), polled 40,533 votes, while Dare Bejide of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) garnered 12,872 votes.

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Speaking after the announcement, Oyebanji expressed confidence in his widespread support, stating that he had earlier told opposition candidates they would fail to win any ward in the election. The claim, however, was quickly clarified as records showed the opposition managed to clinch one ward.

Election data released by INEC indicated that out of 988,251 registered voters, 384,940 were accredited to vote. A total of 382,109 votes were cast, with 375,777 declared valid.

A breakdown of the results further highlighted the dominance of the ruling party, with opposition candidates struggling to maintain influence even in their home bases.

In Efon Local Government Area, the hometown of PDP candidate Oluyede, the APC recorded a decisive victory, polling 8,742 votes against the PDP’s 2,051 votes, underscoring the governor’s strong statewide performance.

Political observers say the outcome reflects a significant consolidation of support for the APC in Ekiti State, with the wide margin suggesting voter approval of the incumbent administration.

The election was largely peaceful, with security agencies maintaining order throughout the process, while INEC officials were commended for the timely conduct and announcement of results.

Oyebanji’s re-election is expected to reinforce the APC’s hold in the South-West and shape political alignments ahead of future electoral contests.

The governor is set to begin a second term with a renewed mandate, amid expectations to sustain development initiatives and address key challenges facing the state.