Inec declare Biodun Oyebanji winner of Ekiti State govnorship election

Di Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec) don declare Biodun Oyebanji as di winner of di election wey happun on Saturday, 20 June.

Di Returning Officer for di election, Adenike Oladiji, announce di result at about 3:13 am on Sunday, wia she declare say Oyebanji get total of 319,224 votes to defeat im closest rivals for di poll.

Na 14 govnorship candidates bin contest for di election as Govnor Oyebanji first tenure go expire on 15, October 2026.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Wole Oluyede na im come second for di poll wit 40,543 votes while African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Dare Bejide poll 12,872 votes to carry third.

From di capital, Ado Ekiti, to oda local govment areas Ekiti, Oyebanji win all di 16 local govment.

APC secure dia highest vote for Ado Ekiti, wia Govnor Oyebanji secure 38,026 votes.

Wit im re-election as di govnor of Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji don break di state succession jinx wia govnors don fail to secure back to back mandates since di creation of di state for 1996.

E also become di second govnorship candidate to win all local govment areas for di state.

Di results na from 16 local govment areas, 177 wards, across 2445 polling units for di state.

Ekiti get 1,059,360 registered voters, but only 1,028,929 collect dia Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

Di total voters na 384,940 and valid votes na 375,777 wey be less dan half of di eligible voters.

'Di voice of di pipo dey loud from evri part for our great state' - Oyebanji

Meanwhile, afta winning di Ekiti State govnorship election, Govnor Oyebanji express im joy as e win 85% of all di votes wey pipo cast on Saturday.

Di govnor appreciate di residents as im promise to continue wit economic development for di state.

"Di voice of di pipo dey loud from evri part for our great state, and di message dey clear," di govnor tok.

E continue: "I dey veri humble for dis victory. To secure all di 16 local govment areas and 85% of di popular vote na humbling vote of confidence from Ekiti Kete."

"From our urban centres to di small villages, una don tok wit one strong voice for beta development, stability, and future wey get endless opportunities."

Oyebanji say e go need keep up wit di good work to secure stability and endless opportunities for di future.

Di govnor also say dis mandate mean say di work wey im administration dey do dey touch "evri household even deeper".

Oyebanji call for unity among all political opposition in di state while im promise to honour di trust wey di pipo give am and im go lead wit humility, dedication and fairness.

"No winners or losers today, na only one united Ekiti wey dey determined to continue di journey to keep moving upward," e add.

Wetin BBC News Pidgin see for Ekiti State govnorship election

Voters complain of voting machine BVAS malfunction for some polling units.

Di election outcome na di first time incumbent govnor go win re-election while in power.

Past incumbent govnors wey attempt to win re-election while in power lose di re-election bid. But later some of dem find dia way back to power after dem don leave office.

Di 2026 Ekiti election no go down witout di usual happenings for most elections for Nigeria.

Our reporter on ground witness voter apathy and many polling units witness veri low turnout.

Di state witness empty streets and presence of plenti soldiers, police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and di Economic and Financial Crimes Commission plus oda security agencies.

But despite di presence of dis security outfits, e no stop di pipo from engaging in vote-buying.

Our reporter witness vote-buying for some centres. Some voters wey tok to BBC News Pidgin confam say some of dem receive 10,000 naira while some collect 15,000 naira to cast dia votes for certain political parties.

Candidate of di African Democratic Congress ADC Bejide accuse di ruling party say dem do serious vote-buying and intimidate voters wey no gree vote for dem.

Election observers Yiaga Africa say di results wey di election join bodi announce dey consistent wit estimates wey dem verify.

Dem warn say widespread vote-buying happun during di election.

Dem tok dis during dia post election statement on Sunday.

Dem make recommendations to improve election process for Nigeria, say Inec officials need beta training on election rules, while security agencies need to help stop vote-buying and voter intimidation.

Who be Biodun Oyebanji?

Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji na public servant wey be 59 years old

Dem born di govnor for December 21, 1967. Im first tenure as govnor of di state start for 16, October 2022 and go end for 15, October 2026, wen im second tenure go begin.

During im manifesto, e promise to continue wit development for di state.

E get Bachelor of Science (BSc.) degree in Political Science from di Ondo State University (now Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti) for 1989, Masters' Degree in Political Science (International Relations & Strategic Studies) for di University of Ibadan.

Oyebanji dey married to Prof. (Mrs) Oyebanji, wey be associate professor for di University of Ibadan.

Oyebanji come from Ikogosi-Ekiti for Ekiti State.

Im don serve as Special Assistant (Parliament Affairs) to di Govnor of Ekiti State from 8th June 1999-2000 and August 1, 2000 to September 2001.

Im also serve as Chief of Staff to Govnor of Ekiti State between September 2001 to May 29, 2003.

Oyebanji work as Commissioner, Ministry of Budget, Economic Planning and Service Delivery, Ekiti State from January 10, 2013 to October 16 2014, and also Secretary, Ekiti State Govment from 16 October 2018 till 7, December 2021.

Di politician don tey for politics. E join public service for im 20s as di secretary to di committee wey dem set up for di creation of Ekiti State for 1994.

Oyebanji na former university lecturer bifor e join politics.

E bin serve as Special Assistant on Legislative Matters to di first govnor of Ekiti State, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, bifor e later become im Chief of Staff.