President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, on his decisive victory in Saturday’s governorship election, describing the outcome as a resounding endorsement of his administration’s performance and a vote for continuity.

Tinubu, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, praised the people of Ekiti State for conducting themselves peacefully and in an orderly manner throughout the electoral process, saying their participation reflected confidence in democratic governance.

The President also charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to build on the success of the Ekiti polls by ensuring future elections remain peaceful, free, fair and credible as the country prepares for the Osun State governorship election in August and the 2027 general elections.

The President, however, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to partnering with the Ekiti State Government to deliver more dividends of democracy and deepen the implementation of the Renewed Hope Agenda for the benefit of the state’s residents.

ALSO, the Leader of the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele, has congratulated Oyebanji on his re-election, describing the outcome as a clear validation of his leadership style and governance record in Ekiti State.

Similarly, Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, yesterday, described Oyebanji’s re-election as a well-deserved reward for purposeful leadership and people-oriented governance.
THE ruling All Progressives Congress has congratulated Oyebanji on his re-election, describing the victory as historic and a reflection of the people’s confidence in his leadership.

Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), Hope Uzodimma, has described Oyebanji’s re-election as a clear endorsement of the APC’s governance agenda and a vote of confidence in President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

On his part, Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, who hailed the process as a model for future elections in Nigeria, lauded the INEC and security agencies for conducting a free, fair, and transparent exercise devoid of violence.

The immediate past Governor of the state, Dr Kayode Fayemi, in a statement, yesterday, by his Media Office, said the outcome of Oyebanji’s re-election, was a resounding vote of confidence that reflected the high regard in which Ekiti people hold his leadership.

A chieftain of the APC in Osun State, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, yesterday, said that Oyebanji’s electoral victory in Ekiti State would be replicated in Osun State on August 15.

HOWEVER, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) yesterday expressed outrage over the 2026 Ekiti State governorship election, stating that it was marred by brazen acts of violence, voter intimidation, vote-buying, and other electoral crimes.

HURIWA stated that what transpired in many polling units was not merely an election tainted by irregularities, but also a dangerous assault on democracy, an affront to the rule of law and a calculated attempt to subvert the sovereign will of the Nigerian people.

It said that widespread allegations of physical attacks on voters and party agents, open voters’ intimidation, organised vote-buying networks operating in the full glare of security personnel, and reports of the illegal deployment and distribution of uncollected Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) paint a deeply disturbing picture of an electoral system increasingly threatened by criminality.

ALSO, CLEEN Foundation has expressed concern over the perceived lack of neutrality among some security personnel deployed for the polls.

In its preliminary election observation report, the organisation said findings from its field observers indicated that while security agencies maintained law and order across most polling units, nearly half of the officers observed were perceived as not being impartial.

This was contained in a report made available to The Guardian by the Executive Director of CLEEN Foundation, Peter Maduoma.

MEANWHILE, Oyebanji has described his landslide victory in Saturday’s governorship election as both a validation of his administration’s performance and a broader endorsement of Tinubu’s economic policies.

Oyebanji, who spoke, yesterday, during a media briefing, said his administration’s achievements over the past four years were largely enabled by federal reforms that increased financial allocations to sub-national governments.

He said that the election outcome reflected approval not only from Ekiti voters but also, in his view, confidence in the Federal Government led by Tinubu.

However, the governor is currently holding a closed-door meeting with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Wole Oluyede, at his Ikere-Ekiti country home, which is being attended by Bamidele and some leaders of the APC in the state.

Also, in a conciliatory gesture, Oyebanji has extended what he described as “hands of fellowship” to his opponents in the election, saying that the election was over and governance must now take precedence.