May 21, 2026
Governor Biodun Oyebanji Ekiti
By Omooba Alabi
It is no longer news that Ekiti State has a date with history on 20th June 2026. That date is set for the gubernatorial election to determine the next tenant of Oke Ayoba, the official residence of the Ekiti State Governor. As at last count, the race had thrown up thirteen contestants. Among the leading three is the current occupant, His Excellency Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, BAO. BAO has been in the saddle since 16th October 2022. He was elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC. He is asking Ekiti people to renew his tenancy for another term of four years. The other two major contestants are Dr. Wole Oluyede of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Ambassador Dare Bejide of the African Democratic Congress, ADC. While BAO is canvassing Ekiti people to retain his services for the next four years, other contestants are out to get him out of the job.
The crux of the matter here is an election that has the potential to throw up a number of firsts. With BAO in 2022, the APC succeeded in a back-to-back win in Ekiti for the very first time, not just for the party, but the first time any party would do that in Ekiti. It will be recalled that Oyebanji’s predecessor was John Kayode Fayemi, who, though a second-timer, did not win back to back. His first attempt to succeed himself in 2014 failed, but he made a dramatic comeback four years later. Earlier, before him, Governor Niyi Adebayo also failed to secure a second-term bid. Even Governor Ayo Fayose, who was the first governor to serve a second term in Ekiti, did not have the opportunity of a back-to-back win. He did not even complete his first term due to extenuating circumstances.
