- Safiu Kehinde
Residents of Ekiti State are again set to go to the poll to decide their next governor at the 2026 Gubernatorial Election.
The residents had over the past months witnessed campaigns and mega rallies across towns and villages ahead of the June 20 showdown.
Political parties and their candidates have heavily devised means of earning the support of voters with some adopting door-to-door campaign strategy while others, particularly the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) adopting massive rallies across the state.
Noticeably, the campaign period was relatively peaceful unlike the fierce and intense campaigns recorded during the build-up for the 2022 election as well as the 2018 election.
The development had largely been attributed to the dominance of the APC in the state’s political space with its candidate and incumbent governor, Biodun Oyebanji, being widely endorsed for a second term in office.
However, chances of possible upset and drama cannot be ruled out as Oyebanji’s bid to retain the governorship seat is challenged by 12 other candidates who also vie to secure the poll of the 1.02 million registered voters that have collected their Permanent Voters Card (PVC).
Compiled below by the NPO Reports are list of all notable candidates for the 2026 Ekiti State Governorship Candidate.
Biodun Oyebanji (All Progressives Congress)
As earlier stated, Oyebanji has strongly tipped to win the contest which had been considered by some to be a one-horse raise. The incumbent governor who won the 2022 governorship election again secured the APC’s ticket in pursuit of a re-election bid alongside his deputy, Monisade Afuye. Oyebanji’s candidacy has drawn strong support and endorsement from political leaders across the state. The endorsement cut across party lines as former governor of the state, Ayodele Fayose, also declared his support for Oyebanji.
NPO Reported that Fayose had in July last year stormed the Oyebanji’s endorsement rally organised by the APC in Ado-Ekiti, the state’s capital. The former governor, whose branded Peoples Democratic Party ‘s (PDP) cap stood out among the rows of dignitaries cladded with the APC attire, endorsed Oyebanji and pledged to work with him and President Bola Tinubu despite their different political affiliation.
Also backing the governor’s re-election bid was his predecessor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who alongside members of the APC Ekiti State Caucus endorsed Oyebanji.
With further presence of the Vice President Kashim Shettima, APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, and other national leaders of the party at the final mega rally of Oyebanji, the governor’s re-election appeared to be a near done deal. However, other candidates tug at his heels for possible upset at the poll with the candidate of the Tanimu Turaki-led PDP faction, Dr. Wole Oluyede, leading the oppositions coup plot.
Dr. Wole Oluyede (Peoples Democratic Party)
Dr. Wole Oluyede, the elder brother of the current Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Olueyede, has positioned himself as a force to reckon with at the forthcoming election. Oluyede who hails from Ikere-Ekiti, the second most populous town in the state had emerged as the candidate of the Turaki-led faction of the PDP. In a strategic bid to cause upset against Oyebanji, Oluyede chose Deji Ogunsakin, an indigene of Ado-Ekiti, as his running mate. With Ado-Ekiti boasting of 183,259 collected PVCs and Ikere-Ekiti recording 67,991 eligible voters ahead of the poll, both men who had equally contested in past governorship elections seek to leverage on their home support and experience
Oluyede contested the 2022 governorship election on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), while Ogunsakin was the PDP’s deputy governorship candidate in the same election. However, the duo is bound to face huge obstacle in their quest for the governorship seat considering INEC’s non-recognition of the Turaki-led faction. Equally, Fayose’s endorsement of Oyebanji is likely to compound their woes despite their position as the strongest challenger of Oyebanji.
However, Oluyede whose campaign agenda centres on security reforms may likely ride on the popularity of his brother, CDS Olufemi Oluyede, to give Oyebanji a run for his money.
According to reports, the PDP candidate had promised the deployment of surveillance drones, establishment of additional police stations job creation, infrastructure development, payment of gratuities and improved access to affordable healthcare.
Dare Bejide (African Democratic Congress)
Bejide, a former Nigerian Ambassador to Canada and former Secretary to the Ekiti State Government, emerged as the ADC’s candidate at the party’s primaries in November 2025. The former ambassador clinched the ADC ticket with 15,466 votes as he defeated former Deputy Governor, Prof. Olusola Eleka, who came second with 12,003 votes. With the primaries far behind and campaigns concluded, Bejide is however set to face the heavily contested poll as the flagbearer of a party revitalised barely a year ago by the coalition of opposition political leaders led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. With Paul Olowoyeye, a relatively less known figure in Ekiti political landscape, as his deputy, Bejide seeks to leverage on Atiku’s popularity in raising the flag of the ADC high at the Saturday election.
His chance at the poll however appears slim on account of the limited presence of the ADC in a state largely dominated over the years by the PDP and now the APC.
Meanwhile, Bejide had during his campaign presented a catchy manifesto which centred on improving education, healthcare, agriculture and youth employment.
Prof. Oyebanji Olajuyin (Labour Party)
With same last name as the current governor, Prof. Oyebanji Olajuyin, seeks to replace his namesake at the 2026 Ekiti Governorship Election under the Labour Party. Olajuyin had in November emerged as the party’s consensus governorship candidate. Born on the 5th of April 1958, the medical doctor and academic scholar is set to appear at the poll as one of the oldest candidates at the age of 67 years.
His manifesto, according to reports, centred on healthcare reform, improved education, transparent governance, and human capital development.
Olajuyin had also been vocal against the growing role of money in politics, saying it weakens accountability and public service. This tends to position him as candidate with concern for accountability in governance. However, the relative decline in popularity of the Labour Party in the state will likely serve as a challenge to Olajuyin’s quest towards securing the governorship seat.
Opeyemi Falegan (Accord Party)
In December 2025, the Accord Party presented Certificate of Return to Opeyemi Falegan as its candidate for the 2026 Ekiti gubernatorial election. The emergence of the 41-year-old politician as the party’s candidate was considered to appeal to the youths in the state.
However, the party’s organisational structure in Ekiti remains weak across the state’s 16 local councils and 177 wards. Accord does not possess similar momentum it has neigbhouring South-West states like Osun and Oyo.
According to reports, the party’s campaign activities have also been more visible in parts of Ekiti North than in other sections of the state which further placed it at odd in the forthcoming election.
Meanwhile other candidates vying for the governorship seat at the Saturday poll include Blessing Abegunde (New Nigeria Peoples Party), Owoola Daramola (Young Progressive Party), and Victor Adetunji (Zenith Labour Party).