In Landslide, Oyebanji Wins Second Term as INEC Declares Ekiti Election Results

Biodun Oyebanji has secured a second term as the governor of Ekiti State, Nigeria, following a decisive victory declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Oyebanji, representing the All Progressives Congress (APC), achieved a landslide win, dominating the results from all 2,445 polling units across the state's 16 local government areas.

The incumbent governor amassed 319,224 votes, significantly outperforming his main competitor, Oluwole Oluyede of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), who secured 40,543 votes. The official announcement was made by Returning Officer Professor Adenike Oladiji, Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure.

Governor Oyebanji and his predecessor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, commended the electoral process, highlighting its smooth conduct and the strong voter turnout. Oyebanji described the high participation as a testament to the people's dedication to democracy and good governance. He acknowledged minor issues reported in some areas but assured the public that they would not lead to disenfranchisement.

Despite the overall praise for the peaceful nature of the poll, civil society organizations expressed reservations. They lauded the peaceful atmosphere but also pointed to incidents of vote-buying and voter intimidation observed in certain local government areas, raising concerns about the integrity of the electoral process in those locations.