Abiodun Oyebanji
By Olamilekan Tosin
Governor Abiodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State has officially been declared the consensus candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the June 20, 2026, governorship election. This development follows the voluntary withdrawal of the only other cleared aspirant, Mrs. Atinuke Oluremi Omolayo, from the party’s primary election originally scheduled for October 27, 2025.
The APC announced its decision to adopt the consensus mode for the governorship primary election in Ekiti State, following Omolayo’s withdrawal and endorsement of Oyebanji as the consensus candidate. According to the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the change was necessitated by Omolayo’s voluntary withdrawal and her expression of support for Oyebanji’s candidacy.
The APC has released a detailed timetable for the nomination process, which includes a delegate congress on Saturday, October 25, 2025, a delegate congress appeal on Sunday, October 26, and a special nomination congress to ratify Oyebanji’s candidacy on Monday, October 27, 2025. The party’s decision to adopt the consensus mode complies with Sections 84(9) and (11) of the Electoral Act 2022, which permit political parties to nominate candidates through consensus, provided all aspirants indicate written consent.
Governor Oyebanji’s emergence as the consensus candidate signals a united front for the APC ahead of the 2026 governorship election. The party has urged all members and stakeholders to rally behind Oyebanji and work towards the party’s victory in the June 2026 governorship election. Oyebanji, who succeeded former Governor Kayode Fayemi in 2022, is seeking a second term in office, leveraging his administration’s policies in infrastructure, youth empowerment, and governance reform.
The Ekiti State governorship election is scheduled for July 20, 2026. With Oyebanji now standing unopposed within the APC, the party’s focus is shifting toward consolidating internal harmony and strengthening its campaign machinery across Ekiti State.
