Ekiti 2026: Meet the 14 Candidates for Governor

Ekiti State voters will head to the polls on Saturday to pick a governor for another four years in this off-cycle election.

People in the state have eagerly collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), which are necessary to vote. The latest count by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) shows that 97.1 percent of registered voters in Ekiti have picked up their PVCs and can vote on Saturday.

Out of 1,059,360 registered voters, 1,028,929 have collected their PVCs. This leaves 30,431 PVCs uncollected. It remains to be seen if the excitement around collecting PVCs will lead to high voter turnout on Saturday.

When voters come out on Saturday, they will choose from 14 candidates, according to the final list released by INEC.

The candidates include Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who wants to keep the governorship seat for another four years.

Mr Oyebanji’s push for re-election puts him in a unique situation. No governor in Ekiti has ever won two consecutive terms. His predecessors either lost their second bid, had their first term cut short, or won a second term years after finishing the first.

Among those challenging Mr Oyebanji are former governorship hopefuls, medical workers, lawyers, businesspeople, diplomats, and younger politicians hoping to shake up the two major parties.

Here are the 14 candidates on INEC’s list and what voters should know about them.

Biodun Oyebanji (APC)

Governor Biodun Oyebanji, 59, from Ikogosi-Ekiti, wants a second term with the APC.

He is a political scientist with a master’s degree from the University of Ibadan. Mr Oyebanji has served as Chief of Staff and Secretary to the State Government under former Governor Kayode Fayemi.

He won the 2022 election with 187,057 votes and took office as governor. For the 2026 election, he emerged as the APC candidate after his only opponent, Atinuke Omolayo, withdrew and endorsed him.

Running with Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye, Mr Oyebanji is campaigning on continuity, highlighting his administration’s achievements in infrastructure, healthcare, education, agriculture, and investment promotion.

Oluwole Oluyede (PDP)

Oluwole Oluyede, a medical doctor and businessman, is the PDP candidate after winning the party’s primary in November 2025.

Born in Ikere-Ekiti, he started Bethany Clinic at 27 and grew his medical practice in the US, Canada, Australia, and the Caribbean.

Mr Oluyede has contested for governor before under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) before joining the PDP.

Running with Ayodeji Ogunsakin, Mr Oluyede's campaign focuses on economic development, healthcare, and job creation.

Oluwadare Bejide (ADC)

Oluwadare Bejide, a 66-year-old lawyer and businessman, is one of the most experienced candidates.

A native of Ilawe-Ekiti, he started his political journey before Ekiti State was created. He was the state secretary of the National Republican Convention (NRC) in old Ondo State and also served as Nigeria's Ambassador to Canada.

Mr Bejide secured ADC’s ticket after beating four other candidates in the primary. Running with Paul Olowoyeye, Mr Bejide's campaign focuses on public sector reforms, infrastructure, agriculture, and welfare for civil servants.

Opeyemi Falegan (Accord Party)

Opeyemi Falegan, 41, is a businessman and philanthropist representing the Accord Party after winning the party’s primary in November.

Born in Ado-Ekiti, he is one of the youngest candidates and holds a master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Wales, Cardiff. He is known for his philanthropy through the OD Foundation.

Running with Omoyemi Olaleye, Mr Falegan's campaign priorities include youth employment, healthcare, economic growth, and social welfare programmes.

Oyebanji Olajuyin (Labour Party)

Oyebanji Olajuyin, a 67-year-old professor and former Chief Medical Director of the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, is the Labour Party’s consensus candidate.

He is from Ikere-Ekiti and is campaigning on healthcare reforms, education, transparent governance, and human capital development.

A 45-year-old Ayokunle Okumade is running with Mr Olajuyin for the governorship.

Blessing Abegunde (NNPP)

Blessing Abegunde, 35, is one of the youngest candidates in the race. A first-class graduate in electrical and electronics engineering from Bowen University, he is the NNPP candidate after other aspirants stepped down for him.

Running with Francis Ajayi, his campaign focuses on youth empowerment, entrepreneurship, and economic transformation.

Bidemi Awogbemi (APP)

Bidemi Awogbemi, 36, aims to boost smaller parties in Ekiti politics.

He holds a Master’s in Electrical Engineering from the University of Bridgeport.

With Akinyemi Adewumi as his running mate, Mr Awogbemi's campaign targets small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and addressing the state’s infrastructure challenges.

Ayodeji Ojo (Action Democratic Party, ADP)

Ayodeji Ojo is a politician from Ikere-Ekiti and has served as chairman of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) in Ekiti State. The 42-year-old is running with 35-year-old Itunu Ibitoye as his deputy.

He became the party’s candidate after an internal primary process. His campaign focuses on governance reforms and grassroots development.

Samuel Akande (AAC)

Akande Samuel, 36, is among the youngest candidates. He wants to challenge the two major parties in Ekiti.

His candidacy reflects the AAC’s focus on youth involvement and alternative governance, inspired by the party’s founder, Omoyele Sowore, who is also running for president.

Mr Akande runs with Oluwasanmi Fajuyigbe as his deputy. His campaign highlights youth participation, empowerment, and political accountability.

Olaniyi Ayodele (PRP)

Olaniyi Ayodele is a 49-year-old businessman from Ikere-Ekiti. He is the Managing Director of WITPARK Homes Ltd, a real estate company.

Mr Ayodele also served as the Ekiti State Coordinator of the Nigerian Association of Agricultural Produce Dealers, working closely with farmers and traders.

He runs with Modupe Adebiyi as his deputy. His campaign emphasizes people-centered governance, accountability, and economic development.

Victor Adetunji (Zenith Labour Party, ZLP)

Victor Adetunji, 38, is running on the platform of the Zenith Labour Party. His candidacy comes at a tough time for the party due to ongoing legal issues regarding its registration.

Despite this uncertainty, he is on the ballot and campaigns for grassroots development and public service reforms.

He runs with Adesina Oyeniyi as his deputy.

Olu Omotoso (Action Alliance)

Olu Omotoso, a 64-year-old ICT expert and politician from Ayede-Ekiti, is the AA candidate.

Before this, he was the state secretary in Oyo State, acted as national secretary, and served as the party’s national public relations officer.

Mr Omotoso previously ran for governor in 2022. In this latest attempt, his campaign focuses on improving education and healthcare, promoting youth inclusion, and ensuring transparency in local government.

Joseph Anifowose (Allied Peoples Movement, APM)

Olanrewaju Anifowose is on INEC’s final list as the APM candidate. He has publicly withdrawn from the race and endorsed Governor Oyebanji.

Before his withdrawal, Mr Anifowose, 65, was running with Margaret Ilesanmi as his deputy.

Ayodele Osinkolu (Young Progressive Party YPP)

Mr Osinkolu is the YPP candidate for Saturday’s election.

However, he later withdrew from the race and joined the PDP. He is now the consensus candidate for the Ekiti North Senatorial District for the 2027 elections.

Despite this, Mr Osinkolu and his running mate, Arowolo Olusesan, are still on INEC’s final list of candidates for the governorship election.