INEC Certifies Abiodun Oyebanji as Winner of the Ekiti State Gubernatorial Election

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially declared Abiodun Abayomi Oyebanji, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the governor-elect of Ekiti State. Following a rigorous state-wide collation process, the electoral body confirmed that Oyebanji secured an absolute plurality of valid votes cast, clearing the statutory constitutional requirements to lead the state for the next administrative term.

The final announcement was delivered at the INEC State Collation Centre in Ado-Ekiti by the Chief Returning Officer for the election, Professor Kayode Adebowale, who also serves as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan.

Professor Adebowale certified that the election process across all local government areas complied with the legal provisions of the Electoral Act. He announced that Oyebanji completely outpaced his closest rivals by dominating the polling tallies in the vast majority of the state's administrative divisions, successfully securing the required 25 percent voter spread across more than two-thirds of the territory.

Statutory Certification: "That Abiodun Abayomi Oyebanji of the APC, having satisfied the requirements of the law, is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected," Professor Adebowale announced to the gathered party agents, international observers, and media executives.

The declaration sparked immediate celebrations across APC strongholds in the state capital and neighboring communities. Conversely, agents representing the Social Democratic Party and the Peoples Democratic Party filed minor administrative reservations regarding the electronic transmission rates from specific rural wards, though they largely commended the peaceful conduct of the electorate.

With the certification concluded, INEC officials confirmed that the formal presentation of the Certificate of Return to the governor-elect and his running mate, Monisade Afuye, will be scheduled in the coming days, signaling a smooth democratic transition.