Ekiti Decides 2026: Oyebanji Wins Fayose’s Polling Unit with 448 Votes

Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has recorded a decisive victory at the polling unit of former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, in Saturday’s governorship election.

Oyebanji won Polling Unit 001, St. David’s Primary School/Maternity Area, Afao-Ekiti, in Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area, after securing 448 votes out of the 493 valid votes cast.

The result showed a wide margin between the APC candidate and his closest challengers, with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Dare Bejide, scoring 37 votes, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Wole Oluyede, polled four votes.

The Action Democratic Party (ADP) also recorded four votes at the polling unit.

According to official figures contained in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Form EC8A, a total of 538 voters were accredited out of the 931 registered voters in the unit.

The polling unit recorded 493 valid votes, while seven ballots were rejected during the counting process.

The outcome attracted attention because the polling unit is located in Afao-Ekiti, the hometown of Fayose, who remains one of the most influential political figures in the state and a former governor under the platform of the PDP.

The result indicates strong support for Oyebanji at the polling unit despite the political significance of the location.

The figures from the unit were signed by polling officials and party agents, confirming the completion of the voting and counting process at the location.

Meanwhile, collation of results continues across the 16 local government areas of Ekiti State as INEC receives and verifies results from various polling units.

The Ekiti governorship election featured 14 candidates, including Oyebanji of the APC, Dare Bejide of the ADC, and Wole Oluyede of the PDP.

The election was closely monitored by political parties, civil society organisations and observers, with security agencies deployed to maintain peace throughout the exercise.

INEC has also continued uploading polling unit results to its Result Viewing Portal (IReV), allowing stakeholders and members of the public to track the outcome of the election as collation progresses.