Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has been affirmed and ratified as the consensus candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the June 20, 2026, governorship election in the state.

The governor was ratified on Monday in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, during a special nomination exercise presided over by the chairman of the primary election committee and governor of Kogi State, Usman Ododo.

The ratification followed the motion moved by Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, the Senate leader in line with section 84 (11) of the Electoral Act and was seconded by the speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Adeoye Aribasoye.

Earlier during the event, an aspirant, Mrs Atinuke Omolayo, formally announced her withdrawal and declared support for Governor Oyebanji to be the candidate of the APC for the next year’s poll.

Governor Ododo put the motion to a voice vote and was thunderously supported by the 885 accredited delegates inside the main bowl of the Ekiti Parapo Pavilion, venue of the exercise.

The Kogi governor stated that, “As the chairman of the consensus nomination committee, I hereby, on behalf of Ekiti APC, ratify Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji as the candidate of the party in line with section 84 (11) of the Electoral Act, for the 2026 governorship election in Ekiti State.”

He commended stakeholders in the state for the consensus arrangement and decision to support Governor Oyebanji, also added that the governor has positively impacted the state in the last three years.

The Kogi governor revealed that the consensus method adopted in the state should be adopted across the nation by political parties, especially the APC,” to avoid wasting resources and hitting up the polity which might affect development and progress.”

“What happened today (Monday) in Ekiti state will go down in history, and this is a template for the whole nation to embrace, because the era of us fighting ourselves and wasting resources is gone. I will advise other states across the country to follow the template for peace, unity, and development of our society, ” he stated

Delivering his acceptance speech, Governor Oyebanji, who was full of joy, lauded President Bola Tinubu for his efforts and commitment to ensuring unity in the APC, adding that his intervention and support resulted in the consensus arrangement for him to become the party’s candidate.

He promised not to disappoint the president and the party leadership, including the delegates, assuring them that he would continue to deliver its shared prosperity agenda for the state across all sectors of the economy.

Oyebanji stated that since the return to the democratic system in 1999, his emergence as the consensus candidate is the first by any ruling party in the state, describing it as a demonstration of political dexterity and unity.

He extended the hand of fellowship to his co-aspirants, especially Kayode Ojo and other aggrieved members of the APC, promising to work with every stakeholder towards delivering victory in the June 20, 2026, election and for President Tinubu in 2027.