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Ekiti and Osun Governorship Elections

The Ekiti State governorship election is scheduled for 20 June 2026, while the Osun State governorship election will hold on 8 August 2026. Both elections will determine the next set of state governors and are being conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

In Ekiti, the incumbent party is expected to seek re-election, with major political parties such as APC and PDP preparing strong candidates following their primaries. In Osun, the incumbent governor is also eligible for re-election, while opposition parties are positioning themselves ahead of a competitive race.

These elections are significant as they form part of Nigeria’s 2026 electoral cycle and are seen as a key political test ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Scroll down to get more information about the candidates and their manifestos.

Scroll to Osun Election

Ekiti Decides: June 20, 2026

On Saturday, June 20, 2026, Ekiti State voters will go to the polls to elect a new governor — the 8th democratic governor in the state’s history. This is your chance to shape roads, water supply, healthcare, education, and security in Ekiti for the next four years.

Twelve candidates from twelve parties are on the ballot. The incumbent, APC’s Biodun Oyebanji, is seeking re-election. With 2,445 polling units across 16 LGAs and nearly a million registered voters, every PVC matters.

View full the profile below

Major Candidate Profile

Opeyemi is a committed politician, philanthropist, and community leader focused on youth empowerment and inclusive development. Founder of the Opeyemi David Falegan Foundation, he has been recognized for his initiatives in education, health, and economic empowerment.

Opeyemi Falegan (AP)

Manifesto/Campaign Promises

  • Improve welfare packages for citizens and retirees
  • Promote economic growth and citizens’ well-being
  • Upgrade schools with modern facilities and expand scholarships
  • Protect forests, rivers, and farmlands to support agriculture
  • Strengthen community policing and security systems
  • Promote transparency, accountability, and inclusive governance
  • Strengthen primary healthcare and expand subsidized care
  • Improve maternal and child healthcare services
Biodun is a seasoned public administrator and technocrat with decades of experience in governance and policy implementation, Biodun Oyebanji has served in multiple strategic roles including Chief of Staff and Secretary to the Ekiti State Government before becoming Governor in 2022.

Biodun Oyebanji (APC)

Manifesto/Campaign Promises

  • Focus more on innovation and technology in Education
  • Improve curriculum relevance, teacher welfare, and school infrastructure
  • Make quality healthcare a right for every Ekiti citizen, not a privilege
  • Fight drug counterfeiting and improving life expectancy through better health service delivery
  • Scale up agri‑investment to boost food security and economic growth
  • Engage over 50,000 youths that will produce #50 billion worth of food under its Bring Back Our Youths to Agriculture (BBYA) programme by the year 2030
Oluwadare is a seasoned diplomat, administrator, and public servant with decades of political experience, Oluwadare Patrick Bejide has served Nigeria in multiple capacities, including as Nigeria’s High‑Commissioner to Canada and as a long‑standing Secretary to the Ekiti State Government.

Oluwadare Bejide (ADC)

Manifesto/Campaign Promises

  • Position agriculture as a core economic driver
  • Enable Ekiti to become a key supplier of food for major markets like Lagos and Abuja
  • Promises to raise morale and welfare for civil servants

Other Candidates

Akande Oluwasegun
African Action Congress (AAC)

Ayodeji Ojo
Action Democratic Party (ADP)

Bidemi Awogbemi
Action People’s Party (APP)

Joseph Anifowose
Allied People’s Movement (APM)

Oyebanji Olajuyin
Labour Party (LP)

Blessing Abegunde
New Nigeria People Party (NNPP)

Olaniyi Ayodele
People’s Redemption Party (PRP)

Osinkolu Olusegun Ayodele
Young Progressive Party (YPP)

Victor Adetunji
Zenith Labour Party (ZLP)

Osun Decides: August 8, 2026

Osun State will choose its governor for the next four years on August 15, 2026. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cleared a streamlined field of 6 political parties to participate on the ballot. This follows a highly unique landscape where major traditional parties like the PDP and LP are completely absent from the final ballot due to internal registration realignments. Voting will take place in 3,763 active polling units across all 30 Local Government Areas (LGAs).

View full the profile below

Major Candidate Profile

Ademola is a Nigerian politician and businessman, current Executive Governor of Osun State since 2022. He previously served as an Executive Director at Guinness Nigeria Plc (1992–1999). Subsequently, between 2001 and 2016, he functioned as the Group Executive Director of Pacific Holdings Limited.

Senator Ademola Adeleke
(Accord Party)

Manifesto/Campaign Promises

  • Youth, Women, and Workers' Empowerment
  • Infrastructure Consolidation
  • Agro-Industrial Expansion
  • Improved Health and Education Access
  • Secured Business Environment
He is a 60-year-old seasoned financial expert and public administrator. He holds a First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC), WAEC, and a Higher National Diploma (HND). He is the current Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA).

Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji
(All Progressives Congress – APC)

Manifesto/Campaign Promises

  • Poverty alleviation through good welfare and job creation
  • Responsive governance
  • Opportunities for economic growth
  • Improved Security
  • Productive Agriculture
  • Education and healthcare delivery
  • Renewed investment in infrastructure
He is a 60-year-old political veteran and academic scholar. He holds an FSLC, SSCE, and an M.Sc. postgraduate degree from the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife. He has several academic publications to his credit

Salaam Najeem Folasayo
(African Democratic Congress – ADC)

Manifesto/Campaign Promises

  • Prioritise workers’ welfare
  • Pensioners’ wellbeing
  • Agricultural development
  • Facilitate youth empowerment
  • Quality healthcare
  • Education and investment promotion

Other Candidates

Adegabo Opawoye Yemisi (ADP)
The only female candidate

Olanrewaju Farinloy (AA)
A younger demographic choice for the state’s large youth population at age 40.

Esan Olajide (AAC)
The youngest candidate contesting in the election at age 39.