Ekiti 2026: The BAO Dilemma

Ekiti State is set to make history on June 20, 2026, with the gubernatorial election to determine the next governor, and Governor Biodun Oyebanji is seeking re-election for another four-year term.

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As of the last count, there are thirteen contestants in the race, with Oyebanji, Dr. Wole Oluyede of the Peoples Democratic Party, and Ambassador Dare Bejide of the African Democratic Congress being the top three contenders.

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Oyebanji, who has been in office since October 16, 2022, is asking the people of Ekiti to renew his tenure, while other contestants are trying to unseat him.

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The upcoming election has the potential to achieve several firsts, including Oyebanji becoming the first governor to succeed himself in Ekiti, after the All Progressives Congress achieved a back-to-back win in the state for the first time in 2022.

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Previous governors, such as John Kayode Fayemi and Niyi Adebayo, failed to secure a second term, while Ayo Fayose, who served a second term, did not achieve a back-to-back win.

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With Oyebanji's track record, it appears that his re-election is a done deal, considering the twelve other candidates on the INEC list are not as strong as Oluyede and Bejide.

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Dr. Wole Oluyede, who emerged as the PDP flagbearer in November last year, faces an uphill task due to internal opposition within his party and the lack of a united and formidable party structure behind him.

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Oluyede has never held public office and is relatively unknown outside the party, making it challenging for him to showcase his strength beyond his personality.

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He has vowed to "reclaim the glory of Ekiti" with promises of inclusivity, transparency, economic reforms, and infrastructure improvement, but his chances are hindered by the weakness of his party.

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Ambassador Dare Bejide, on the other hand, pledges to improve living conditions for residents, tackle unemployment, and address infrastructure gaps, guided by fairness, inclusion, and policies that impact people's lives.

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Both Oluyede and Bejide are promoting the Ekiti South agenda, but this may not be a decisive factor in the election, as the electorate is likely to vote based on competence rather than sentimental considerations.

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Oyebanji has the advantage of incumbency, with a positive showcase of his accomplishments in almost four years, and his campaign is focused on accountability and scorecard assessment.

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He has delivered on his six pillars of administration, captured in the mantra "Shared Prosperity," and has been recognized with several accolades from the media, civil society organizations, and other bodies.

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Oyebanji's performance has made it difficult for other contestants to use infrastructure as a campaign issue, as roads have been constructed, electricity has improved, and the education and health sectors have received attention.

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The state can now boast of several tertiary hospitals, specialist facilities, and a cargo airport, which was completed by Oyebanji, demonstrating the beauty of continuity.

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He has also initiated his own legacy projects, including the Second Ado-Ekiti flyover and the Ado-Ekiti Central Business District, and has put Ekiti on the aviation map of the world.

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The public service in Ekiti is contented, with the state being among the first to adopt and pay the current minimum wage of seventy thousand Naira, and welfare packages like loan facilities have been boosted.

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Oyebanji has employed close to 10,000 personnel into the state public service, the highest figure since state creation in 1996, and has channelled billions of Naira into payment of monthly pensions and arrears of gratuity.

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He has the support of all past governors of the state, including Otunba Niyi Adebayo, Kayode Fayemi, Ayo Fayose, and Segun Oni, who are campaigning for him, and has the backing of the body of elders that fought for the creation of the state.

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Virtually every segment of society is canvassing for Oyebanji, including his co-alumni, Iyalojas, student bodies, drivers, artisans, and elites, with over one hundred independent groups volunteering their support.

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The choice before Ekiti is between pedigree and stories, landmarks and rhetoric, tangible scorecard and promises, and mass support movement and canvassers.

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It is a choice between a well-oiled party machine and crisis-ridden parties, a tested and trusted leader, and unknown contestants trying to cut their political milk teeth.

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The decision is obvious, and the date for the election is June 20, 2026.