Oyebanji Wins Ekiti Governorship Election with 319,224 Votes

In the Ekiti State governorship election held on June 20, 2023, Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with 319,224 votes. His closest challenger, Wole Oluyede of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), received 40,543 votes, while Dare Bejid of the African Democratic Party (ADC) garnered 12,872 votes.

The election recorded a significant voter turnout of 37.07%, with 384,940 accredited voters out of 1,059,360 registered voters. Despite concerns about voter apathy and logistical challenges, the election was conducted peacefully, with reports indicating that electoral officials generally followed established procedures.

The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room and the West Africa Democracy Solidarity Network observed the election, noting some procedural violations but overall a peaceful atmosphere. Oyebanji's victory marks a significant achievement as he becomes the first governor in Ekiti's history to win re-election since the return to democracy in 1999.