Voters in all 16 local government areas of Ekiti State will cast their ballots on Saturday, June 20, to either retain the ruling party’s Governor Biodun Oyebanji or elect a new governor from a pool of opposition frontrunners.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) cleared 13 political parties to contest the Ekiti off-cycle poll. Gubernatorial elections in the state do not follow the regular election calendar due to protracted legal disputes and rulings that marred previous elections.
Approximately 1.06 million voters are registered across all 16 local government areas of Ekiti State, INEC Chairman Josh Amupitan said on May 21. The figure had risen from about 900,000 voters recorded for the 2023 polls.
This year’s vote is deemed a two-horse race between the ruling All Progressives Congress’s Mr Oyebanji and Oluwole Oluyede of the Peoples Democratic Party. Eleven other candidates vying for the state’s top job are considered long shots.
Governor Biodun Oyebanji – APC
Mr Oyebanji, 58, a former Secretary to the State Government, was a protégé of former Governor Kayode Fayemi, whom he later succeeded in 2022. He rode on Mr Fayemi’s coattails to become governor four years ago. His deputy is Monisade Afuye, 67.
Mr Oyebanji’s administration commissioned the Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport in December 2025, becoming the first governor in the state’s history to launch the landmark project.
For decades, visitors and residents of Ekiti State had to first travel to Akure Airport in neighbouring Ondo State before continuing their journey by road to Ado-Ekiti, which takes approximately 90 minutes.
Although Mr Oyebanji completed the airport, it was former Governor Segun Oni who conceived the idea and former Governor Ayo Fayose who began the project in 2019. When former Governor Kayode Fayemi was sworn into office, he took over the project and conducted a test flight at the airport in 2022.
The making of this airport is a collective legacy of at least three governors before me, Engineer Segun Oni, who first conceived the idea, Governor Ayo Fayose, who acquired and initially cleared the site, and Dr Kayode Fayemi, who, despite all odds, commenced the building of this airport six years ago,” Mr Fayemi said in December 2025 at the airport’s commissioning. “Today’s event is therefore an applause to our collective determination.”
Mr Oyebanji said previous administrations spent over $14 billion on the airport, while his administration spent more than $34 billion to complete the project.
The governor succeeded in uniting his formerly feuding predecessors, Adeniyi Adebayo and Mr Fayose, by including them on the first commercial aircraft that landed at the state airport. Mr Fayemi was also on the United Airlines flight.
His acknowledgement of the efforts of previous leaders and his ability to bring them together touched Mr Fayose, who hailed the governor as deserving of a second term.
“Was I able to sit with former governors Niyi Adebayo, Kayode Fayemi and Segun Oni in the past? We were all fighting due to political differences. But today, we are one because we have a governor who can unite us,” Mr Fayose said on Thursday. “Why can’t I support a man that is uniting people, respecting them and performing well?”
Mr Oyebanji also enjoys the backing of veteran lawyer Afe Babalola, who donated $1.6 million worth of navigational aids and spent $356 million to build a 100-capacity car park.
The airport is projected to create jobs and attract investment to the state.
Still, opponents like PDP’s Mr Oluyede and ADC’s Dare Bejide questioned Mr Oyebanji’s performance, claiming the state has barely recorded any improvement in critical sectors and that employment remained at record-lows.
The governor obtained his bachelor’s degree in political science from Ekiti State University in 1989 and a master’s in international relations and strategic studies from the University of Ibadan in 1992.
Mr Oyebanji polled 187,057 votes in 2022 to defeat Segun Oni of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), who scored 82,211 votes, and Bisi Kolawole of the People’s Democratic Party, who placed third with 67,457 votes.
In his four years in office, the governor touted achievements such as building a flyover to ease traffic within the state capital, and promptly paying salaries to civil servants and pensioners.
Mr Oluyede was dissatisfied with Mr Oyebanji’s performance and attacked his administration for lacking any notable project deserving of a presidential visit in his four years in office.
“It is becoming increasingly difficult to point to a single landmark project in Ekiti that would warrant presidential commissioning,”
Mr Oluyede, the PDP candidate, said in a statement in April.
He added that Mr Oyebanji was more concerned with taking pictures with presidential officials to boost his reputation and the optics of his administration than with getting actual work done.
“Instead, what we see are repeated visits to the presidency and well-publicised photographs that offer little value to the ordinary citizens.”
“The absence of such a project inauguration in Ekiti nearly three years into the Oyebanji administration raises concerns about the utilisation of state resources.”
Mr Oyebanji’s party defended his administration, claiming that the smiles on retirees’ faces were proof of the dividends of democracy.
“You should see the salaries that are being paid, contrary to what was happening during the PDP days; that’s when the dividend of democracy speaks. You should look at the faces of the pensioners and retirees;retirees, that’s where the dividend of democracy speaks,” said APC State Publicity Secretary, Segun Dipe.
Oluwole Oluyede – PDP
Mr Oluyede, 62, the governor’s main challenger, is a trained doctor who has established hospitals in Nigeria and worked across the Caribbeans, Australia and Canada.
Contesting under the PDP, Mr Oluyede’s candidacy suffered a major setback in January when INEC delisted him from the list of Ekiti governorship candidates, triggering a legal tussle at the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court.
It took the intervention of Justice Mohammed Umar for Mr Oluyede to be recognised as the PDP candidate.
Mr Umar ruled in Mr Oluyede’s favour and ordered INEC to recognise his candidacy, describing the commission’s action as unlawful. He issued an order of mandamus directing INEC to add Mr Oluyede as a candidate and the PDP logo to the ballot.
Mr Oluyede attended Emmanuel Primary School, Ado-Ekiti, in 1970 for his primary education and completed his secondary education at the Federal School of Arts and Science, Ondo, where he obtained his A-levels before studying medicine at the University of Ilorin.
After working in clinics in Emure-Ekiti and Lagos, he relocated to the U.S. in 2001 for a residency programme in New York and moved to Australia in 2006, where he became a fellow of the Royal Australian College. He moved to Canada in 2008 and later returned to Australia.
He has anchored his campaign on improving the quality of life of the people, with a promise to “provide employment opportunities, quality education, accessible healthcare and massive agricultural interventions, among other benefits.”
Mr Oluyede flayed the Oyebanji administration and urged residents of the state to vote it out in the upcoming election scheduled for June 20.
“This Biodun Oyebanji government does not have your interest at heart. Teachers are crying. Market traders are not happy. Civil servants are lamenting. Even our monarchs are sad. Who then are the people enjoying this government?” he queried during a visit to the palace of the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti last month.
“Vote for the PDP on June 20 so that we can chase the APC out.”
Oluwadare Bejide – African Democratic Congress (ADC)
Mr Bejide, who previously served as Nigeria’s ambassador to Canada, is the flagbearer of the ADC coalition party and his running mate is Paul Olowoyeye.
Mr Bejide, 66, condemned Mr Oyebanji for underperformance, describing the roads under his administration as “a nightmare.”
While the ADC has gained popularity at the national level, it remains unclear if that acclaim had reached Ekiti State where residents were more conservative and divided between PDP and APC.
“Ekiti is yearning for a change. The present government has not met the expectations of our people. From every entry point; whether from Kwara or Ondo, the roads are a nightmare. Our people want someone who will salvage the situation, and we are prepared to win this election convincingly,” he said. “Our people have suffered so much. They have been deprived of many essential services. The government has not done enough in critical sectors,” said ADC state publicity secretary, Gboyega Aribisogan.
There are concerns about infrastructure, water supply, electricity and security, while poverty remains a major challenge. These are the issues we have been discussing with the people,” Mr Aribisogan added.
Opeyemi Falegan – Accord Party
Mr Falegan, 41, emerged the governorship candidate for the Accord Party in 2025 and he tapped Omoyemi Olaleye to be his turning mate.
He obtained his bachelor’s degree from Lead City University and an MBA from the University of Wales. He is well trained in weaponry, infantry tactics as part of an elite soldier team. He said he served in the Royal Air Force (RAF) in Britain.
The Accord Party governorship candidate is known for philanthropy through the Opeyemi David Foundation. In 2025, he paid the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Boards forms for 7,000 secondary school students.
He also said his foundation is committed to empowering widows.
Allied People’s Movement – Joseph Anifowose
Mr Anifowose, 65, was the APM governorship candidate for Ekiti State until May 13 when he stepped down to support Mr Oyebanji of the ruling party.
Oyebanji Olajuyin – Labour Party
Mr Olajuyin, 68, was declared the consensus governorship candidate for the Labour Party last November.
A doctor who hails from Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti South senatorial district, has worked as an associate professor of Ear Nose and Throat Surgery (Otorhinolaryngology) and researchers at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado – Ekiti.
He decried the monetisation of democracy in the country, asserting politicians seek positions to build wealth instead of working for the good of the people.
“Democracy is the best form of government, but greed and avarice have robbed our nation of its benefits,” he said in his acceptance speech in November 2025. “Today, money has taken the place of character in our politics.”
“Many seek power to build wealth instead of building a good name. Political adventurers rely more on financial influence than on wisdom and the fear of God,” he added.
Blessing Ayobami Abegunde – New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP)
Ms Abegunde is the flagbearer of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) for the Ekiti State gubernatorial election.
He is an indigene of Isinbode Ekiti, in Ekiti East Local Government Area.
In his Workers’ Day goodwill message on May 1, Mr Abegunde vowed to resolve issues of delayed salaries and unemployment, elected into office.
Mr Abegunde,35, has a thirty year age gap between him and his running mate, Francis Ajayi who is 65 years.
Olaniyi Ayodele – People’s Redemption Party (PRP)
The governorship candidate of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP) is Olaniyi Ayodele and his running mate is Modupe Adebiyi, 35.
Mr Ayodele, 49, anchored his campaign on job creation, vowing to provide employment opportunities for the residents of the state, if voted into office.
“We are presenting a clear vision for the future of Ekiti State. Our focus is on development, job creation, improved welfare and good governance. We believe the people of Ekiti deserve better, and we are ready to serve them,” he said in a statement on Tuesday.
Young Progressive Party (YPP)
INEC initially listed Osinkolu Olusegun Ayodele and Arowolo David Olusesan the governorship candidate and running mate for the Young Progressive Party (YPP) in January.
It appears Mr Ayodele has abandoned his governorship ambition and defected to the PDP where he was announced the consensus candidate for the Ekiti North senatorial district last month.
Other candidates vying for the Ekiti governorship position are Bidemi Awogbemi (36), Akinyemi Adewumi (53) of Action People’s Party; Akande Oluwasegun (36), Oluwasanmi Fajuyigbe of African Action Congress; Ayodeji Ojo of Action Democratic Party and Victor Adetunji – Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
