Eleven political parties will be slugging it out today for who will take the governorship seat in Ekiti State for the next four years.

The 2026 Ekiti State governorship election will hold across the state’s 16 local government areas, with more than 1 million registered voters expected to decide whether Governor Biodun Oyebanji secures a second term or a new leader emerges.

With 1.02 million registered voters across 2,445 polling units, Oyebanji faces challengers from 10 political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The incumbent governor is seeking a second four-year term on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), with his deputy, Monisade Afuye, retained as running mate.

Oyebanji had won the 2022 governorship election with 187,057 votes, defeating Segun Oni of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Bisi Kolawole of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

With 1.02 million registered voters across 2,445 polling units for this election, Oyebanji faces challengers from 10 political parties ahead of the 2027 general polls.

The African Democratic Congress’s Ambassador Dare Bejide, a former Secretary to the State Government and former Nigerian Ambassador to Canada, is also in the race as the consensus alternative to both the APC and PDP.

PDP Candidate, Dr Wole Oluyede, from Ikere-Ekiti in Ekiti South Senatorial District, hopes to revive a party that has progressively ceded ground in the state.

Eight other candidates who completed the ballot include Akande Oluwasegun Samuel (AAC), Opeyemi Falegan (Accord), Ayodeji Ojo (ADP), Bidemi Olaiya Awogbemi (APP), Oyebanji Ikusayedegbe Olajuyin (Labour Party), Abegunde Ayobami Blessing (NNPP), Olaniyi Olanrewaju Ayodele (PRP), Owoola Daramola (YPP), and Victor Damilola Adetunji (ZLP).

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced the distribution of sensitive and non-sensitive election materials from the Computerised Vehicle Inspection Centre (RAC Centres) to polling units across the wards ahead of today’s election.

According to INEC, a total of 1,059,360 registered voters are eligible to participate in the election, which will be conducted across 2,445 polling units located in 177 wards. Voting is scheduled to commence at 8:30 a.m.

Authorities have also announced a statewide restriction on vehicular movement from midnight until 6:00 p.m. on election day to facilitate the smooth conduct of the exercise.

INEC has confirmed the distribution of sensitive election materials to local government areas and assured voters of the readiness of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).

Security agencies have also deployed personnel and operational assets across the state, particularly in border communities and other strategic locations, to maintain law and order throughout the electoral process.

Civil society organisations monitoring the election have urged residents to participate peacefully and responsibly, emphasising the importance of safeguarding the integrity of the democratic process.

Four senatorial by-elections in Enugu, Rivers, Ondo, and Nasarawa; one House of Representatives and one State Assembly bye-election in Kano and Kebbi states are also slated to be held today. (Channels)