Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is poised to make history if he secures victory in Saturday's off-cycle governorship election in Ekiti State. No incumbent has ever won re-election since the state elected Adeniyi Adebayo as its first governor in 1999. Mr. Adebayo served a single term. Governors Ayo Fayose and Kayode Fayemi each served non-consecutive two terms, while Segun Oni did not complete his term, leaving office in 2010 after the courts voided his 2007 election.
Mr. Oyebanji is confident because this year's contest presents a different scenario from past elections, which featured strong opposition, tense campaigns, subtle power play, and grassroots mobilization by main actors. This time, the field is dotted with players whose antecedents do not project them as capable of rattling the incumbent.
Political Landscape and Analysis
Political watchers say they are observing a mismatch, not in terms of the quality of the personalities involved, but relative to the political platforms and support bases of the contestants. For many residents, Mr. Oyebanji appears to be coasting to victory even before the first ballot is cast, thanks to the weakness of the opposition and realignments that have seen the state's major political actors gravitate towards the APC.
On the ballot, 13 candidates are challenging Mr. Oyebanji. The leading opposing candidates are Wole Oluyede, a medical practitioner and businessman flying the flag of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Oluwadare Bejide, a diplomat running on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Others include Olajuyin Oyebanji (Labour Party), Blessing Abegunde (NNPP), Samuel Oluwasegun (AAC), Ojo Ayodeji (ADP), Opeyemi Felegan (Accord), Olanrewaju Anifowose (APM), Olaita Awogbemi (APP), Praise Ayodele (PRP), Ayodele Osinkolu (YPP), and Damilola Adetunji (ZLP). Despite the array of parties and candidates, only the PDP and ADC have shown the capacity to mount a serious challenge. Even so, APC campaign officials perceive the election as a coronation ceremony for Mr. Oyebanji.
Biodun Oyebanji (APC)
Mr. Oyebanji hails from Ikogosi in Ekiti West Local Government Area. Before running for governor in 2022, he served as Secretary to the State Government and Chief of Staff to the Governor. He defeated former Governor Olusegun Oni of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Bisi Kolawole of the PDP in 2022 with 187,057 votes. Mr. Oni polled 82,211 votes, while Mr. Kolawole garnered 67,457.
Opinions regarding Mr. Oyebanji's performance in office are mixed, but the administration consistently gives itself a thumb-up. It cites massive road construction, completion of the Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport (begun under its predecessor), over 5,000 youth participating in commercial farming through cluster initiatives, rehabilitation and equipping of several hospitals and health centres, food security, and improvements in education and security. However, critics warn that voting for the governor for a second term would be costly for the state.
Apart from incumbency and performance, other factors may help the governor retain his position. All four former governors of the state—Adeniyi Adebayo, Olusegun Oni, Ayo Fayose, and Kayode Fayemi—have thrown their support behind Mr. Oyebanji. In November, Mr. Adebayo vowed to lead the second-term bid, praising Mr. Oyebanji's exploits across all sectors and urging massive voter support. Mr. Oni, now a prominent APC member, rejoined the party in January, removing a major impediment from the northern senatorial zone. Mr. Fayose, a PDP chieftain, has publicly maintained that Mr. Oyebanji has performed exceptionally well and deserves a return to office, citing the governor's humility and his ability to unite all former governors across party lines. Mr. Fayemi's support comes naturally; despite initial reports of a rift, he openly endorsed the governor's second-term bid, calling helping him become his successor his greatest achievement.
APC supporters are confident that with the triune support of former governors, no opposition enchantment can tilt the power balance. APC spokesperson Segun Dipe said, "In 2026, alignment replaces confrontation; the script has flipped. APC now controls the Presidency, Ekiti State Government, and all 16 LGAs. There is no 'Abuja vs Ado-Ekiti' tension. Federal presence means security support for Governor Biodun Oyebanji's border forum with Kogi, Kwara, and Ondo, plus more road funding and policy alignment." He noted that APC's 2014 loss to the PDP was a learning curve, adding that while the party had the right policies, it lacked grassroots communication. "Trust us, the projects will make sense later. PDP weaponised 'stomach infrastructure' in the final 72 hours. Rice, cash, and daily handouts beat long-term plans at the polling unit. Victimhood was turned into protest votes. 2014 taught APC that projects without politics would amount to losing elections," Mr. Dipe said, adding that in 2026, Governor Oyebanji has a performance-based incumbency.
Wole Oluyede (PDP)
PDP candidate Wole Oluyede is leading the opposition in Saturday's contest. A few weeks ago, it was uncertain if the party would field a candidate. A reprieve from the Federal High Court in Abuja and a final pronouncement from the Court of Appeal in Akure reignited the party's hope, ordering INEC to add his name to the ballot. The late inclusion is seen as a major drawback, but the physician-turned-politician and his campaign have traversed the state canvassing votes. If crowds at his campaigns are any indication, the APC has something to be concerned about.
However, APC's Mr. Dipe is not worried. "2026 is not 2014, when the PDP, relying on federal might and the sagacity of Ayo Fayose, overwhelmed the APC. PDP no longer has power at the centre, and the people have since forgotten Mr. Fayose's stomach infrastructure, leaving the party's umbrella shredded. PDP is out of power at the centre and fragmented at the state level, with no incumbent, no federal backing, and no project record to campaign on. Other parties lack structure in all 177 wards."
The PDP Campaign Organisation responded with defiance. Spokesperson Idowu Adelusi said despite the party's exit from power at the centre, it can repeat its 2003 and 2014 feats by throwing out the incumbent. He is confident that the massive turnout for Mr. Oluyede's campaigns signals that history will repeat. "APC is jittery at the massive turnout of residents for our campaigns. The people are tired and want a change. They are happy for the return of the PDP because it can bring back the good old days and restore a people-oriented government."
Mr. Oluyede, elder brother of Chief of Defence Staff Olufemi Oluyede, hails from Ikere-Ekiti in the southern senatorial district but was raised in Ado-Ekiti, a major voting bloc. He is not a neophyte, having contested the 2018 governorship election on the ADC platform. He is favoured by proponents of the "Ekiti South Agenda" (ESA), a socio-political movement agitating for power rotation and regional development, ensuring governorship power goes to the southern part in 2026. His push for power shift is opposed by APC lawmakers from the zone, who support continuity.
David Bamidele, an Ado Ekiti civil servant, said the renewed vigour within the PDP ensures a semblance of a contest. However, he believes the PDP is suffering from fractures inflicted by its leaders at federal and state levels. "A miracle is what the PDP needs to win this election," he said.
Oluwadare Bejide (ADC)
Oluwadare Bejide is a former Secretary to the Ekiti State Government and Nigeria's High Commissioner to Canada. He is a legal practitioner from Ilawe-Ekiti in Ekiti South-west Local Government Area. He previously ran for governor in 2018 on the ticket of the Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN) after defecting from the PDP following primary disputes. He believes Ekiti State has been poorly managed and needs change. Alaba Agboola, director general of Bejide's Campaign Organisation, told PREMIUM TIMES that the people are willing to vote out Mr. Oyebanji and the ADC is prepared to take over government. He said if there is no vote buying or electoral malpractices, the ADC can spring a surprise.
However, analysts are unsure how the ADC intends to turn the table. Both the ADC and PDP candidates are from the same southern senatorial district, suggesting they will split the vote against a consolidated vote from the north and central, where the incumbent draws strength. The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday ordered INEC to deregister the party, but the Court of Appeal the following day halted enforcement, providing a reprieve.
Opeyemi Falegan (Accord)
After the appellate court voided the deregistration order against his party, Mr. Falegan declared on Facebook that he is determined to win. "I will be the first civilian governor from Ado-Ekiti in Ekiti state. Mark my words," he said. The former British soldier focuses on grassroots support and an economic agenda of youth empowerment. He is CEO of ODI Foundation, empowering widows and the less privileged, and was director/CEO of Nkechi Films Production and NBS Foundation. He reportedly married actress Nkechi Blessing before they parted ways in 2022. Many residents remember him for philanthropic activities. Frank Adebowale, a teacher in Ado Ekiti, said Mr. Falegan is popular but lacks the political force to rattle the status quo.
Praise Ayodele (PRP)
Praise Ayodele enters the contest as a youth mobiliser and former student leader. His campaign targets youth and students, promising better learning and education. He studied Food Science and Technology at Federal Polytechnic Offa, where he served as SUG president. He is into real estate and is MD/CEO of WITPARK Homes Ltd. He claims to have built boreholes and infrastructure on campus as a student leader, promising greater things as governor.
A United Opposition Front?
Mr. Adelusi said the opposition is making efforts to unite forces for Saturday's poll. However, most parties lack structure, and their aggregation may not match the strength of the ruling party.
