Court Upholds Oyebanji As APC Candidate For 2026 Ekiti Governorship Election

The Federal High Court has reaffirmed Governor Biodun Oyebanji as the validly nominated candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2026 Ekiti State governorship election.

According to Ireporter Online, the judgment was delivered on Wednesday in a suit challenging Oyebanji’s emergence as the party’s flagbearer ahead of the upcoming polls. The court held that his selection process was conducted in line with the Electoral Act 2022 and the internal guidelines of the APC.

Governor Oyebanji had earlier emerged as the APC governorship candidate following a consensus arrangement in which 885 delegates from all 177 wards of Ekiti State unanimously endorsed him. His emergence came after the withdrawal of Mrs. Atinuke Oluremi Omolayo and the disqualification of Kayode Ojo and Abimbola Olajumoke, who were said to have failed to meet the party’s requirements.

Omolayo was reported to have stepped down during the primary exercise held at the Ekiti Parapo Pavilion in Ado-Ekiti, citing Oyebanji’s performance and the desire to sustain ongoing developmental projects in the state.

The APC subsequently affirmed Oyebanji as its consensus candidate for the 2026 governorship election, with the motion for affirmation moved by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele and seconded by the Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Stephen Aribasoye.

The Chairman of the Affirmation Congress Committee, Ahmed Ododo, noted that the decision reflected the governor’s “giant strides in various sectors” and the confidence of party stakeholders in his leadership.

Further proceedings are expected to be communicated as the election cycle progresses.