Editorials
Ekiti Decides Today: Oyebanji Faces ADC’s Bajide, PDP’s Wole, 8 other challengers as over one million voters head to polls
Ekiti State goes to the polls today in one of Nigeria’s most closely watched off-cycle governorship elections, with Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the APC seeking a second term against 10 other candidates.
The election, which is taking place across the state’s 16 local government areas and 2,445 polling units, will determine whether Oyebanji becomes the first governor in Ekiti’s history to win two consecutive terms.
With over 1.02 million registered voters expected to participate, the contest is widely seen as a referendum on the governor’s first-term performance and a key indicator of political alignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Oyebanji enters the race as the favourite, backed by the APC’s extensive political structure, control of all National Assembly seats from the state, all 26 seats in the State House of Assembly, all 16 local government councils and 22 LCDAs. His re-election bid has also received endorsements from former governors Adeniyi Adebayo, Ayodele Fayose, Kayode Fayemi and Segun Oni, as well as respected legal figures Afe Babalola and Wole Olanipekun.
The ADC candidate, Ambassador Dare Bejide, is positioning himself as the main opposition challenger. Backed by several prominent opposition figures and supported by top ADC leaders including former Senate President David Mark and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, Bejide hopes to translate growing opposition sentiment into votes despite concerns about the party’s grassroots structure.
For the PDP, Dr. Wole Oluyede faces an uphill battle following the decision of former Governor Ayodele Fayose to openly support Oyebanji. Nevertheless, the PDP candidate is banking on support from Ekiti South and other traditional PDP strongholds to remain competitive.
Also on the ballot are candidates of the AAC, Accord, ADP, APP, Labour Party, NNPP, PRP, YPP and ZLP.
As voting begins, all eyes are on Ekiti. Beyond choosing a governor, the election is expected to provide a major test of the APC’s popularity, the strength of the opposition, and the political mood of voters ahead of the 2027 elections.
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