Residents of Ekiti State are heading to the polls today, Saturday, June 20, 2026, to elect a governor who will lead the state for the next four years in the scheduled off-cycle governorship election.
The Independent National Electoral Commission had earlier confirmed that eligible voters across the state had collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), the mandatory requirement for participation in the election.
According to the electoral body, 97.1 per cent of registered voters in the state have obtained their PVCs, making them eligible to cast their ballots in today’s exercise.
INEC data shows that of the 1,059,360 registered voters in Ekiti State, a total of 1,028,929 have collected their PVCs, while 30,431 cards remain unclaimed, according to Daily Post.
Among the major contenders seeking the votes of the 1,028,929 eligible voters are the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and incumbent governor, Biodun Oyebanji, who is seeking a second term in office, Oluwole Oluyede of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Oluwadare Bejide of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Also on the ballot are Opeyemi Falegan of Accord, Oyebanji Olajuyin of the Labour Party, Blessing Abegunde of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), Bidemi Awogbemi of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Ayodeji Ojo of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Samuel Akande of the African Action Congress (AAC), Olaniyi Ayodele of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP), Victor Adetunji of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), and Olu Omotoso of the Action Alliance.
The list of contestants is further completed by Joseph Anifowose of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and Ayodele Osinkolu of the Young Progressive Party (YPP).
Despite the number of candidates in the race, political observers expect the contest to be largely dominated by incumbent Governor Biodun Oyebanji and the ADC candidate, Oluwadare Bejide.
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