- Oyebanji, Bejide, Oluyede, Alade In Fight To Finish
- SDP Denies Withdrawal Reports, Says Candidate Remains On Ballot
- INEC Urges Voters To Shape Future Through Ballot
- Police Threaten Strict Penalties For Electoral Offenders
The stage is set for a fierce political contest in Ekiti State as voters head to the polls today to elect a governor who will steer the affairs of the state for the next four years.
With campaigns concluded and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declaring its readiness for the exercise, attention has shifted to the four leading contenders seeking to emerge victorious in what promises to be a closely watched election.
TheMatrix Newspaper in this special report profiles the leading candidates, their strengths, weaknesses and how the battle will be won and lost.
Oyebanji: Incumbency, Performance and APC Structure
The candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Governor Biodun Oyebanji, enters the race as the man to beat.
Strengths
Oyebanji’s greatest advantage is the power of incumbency. He enjoys access to an extensive political structure built around the ruling party and has secured endorsements from key political stakeholders within and outside the state.
Supporters point to infrastructure projects, social intervention programmes, improvements in security and relative industrial growth under his administration. The backing of influential APC figures at the national level has also strengthened his campaign.
Perhaps more importantly, the governor has cultivated an image of political inclusiveness, maintaining cordial relations with many former political rivals and power blocs in the state.
Weaknesses
However, incumbency can also be a burden. The opposition has sought to turn public dissatisfaction over economic hardship, inflation and unemployment into electoral issues against the governor.
Critics argue that some of the administration’s promises remain unfulfilled and that the electorate may demand more tangible improvements in living conditions.
Oluyede: PDP Banking on Protest Votes
Flying the flag of the Peoples Democratic Party is Dr Oluwole Oluyede.
He is not new in Ekiti’s governorship race as he previously contested in 2022 under the banner of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) before joining the PDP.
Running along with Ayodeji Ogunsakin, Mr Oluyede campaign has focused on economic development, healthcare and job creation. Oluyede brings experience and name recognition into the race.
Strengths
The PDP candidate’s strongest asset is his established political base and familiarity among voters across the state’s 16 local government areas.
The opposition is hoping to capitalize on economic frustrations and mobilize voters seeking change.
The PDP also retains pockets of loyal support in several communities despite years out of power at the state level.
Oluyede’s experience in governance and his grassroots appeal remain important factors in the contest.
Weaknesses
The major challenge facing the PDP candidate is confronting the formidable APC machinery in the state.
Questions also remain about whether the opposition has sufficiently rebuilt its structures to effectively compete against a well-entrenched ruling party network on election day.
Alade: SDP’s Third-Force Gamble
Representing the Social Democratic Party is Ambassador Isaac Adebayo Alade who is positioning himself as an alternative to the two dominant parties.
Strengths
Alade’s campaign has focused on attracting voters dissatisfied with both the APC and PDP.
His political experience and reputation in public service have helped him gain visibility, particularly among younger voters and those advocating for a break from traditional political alignments.
If voter turnout among undecided voters is high, the SDP candidate could emerge as a significant factor in the race.
Weaknesses
Like most third-party candidates, Alade faces the challenge of limited statewide structures compared to the APC and PDP.
The SDP also lacks the extensive grassroots network and election-day mobilization capacity often required to convert popularity into votes across all polling units.
Dare Bejide: ADC’s Dark Horse With Deep Political Roots
The candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Oluwadare Bejide, is widely regarded as a potential spoiler capable of reshaping the contest.
A former ambassador, former Secretary to the Ekiti State Government and veteran politician, Bejide emerged as the ADC candidate after a keenly contested primary.
Strengths
Strong name recognition: Bejide has been active in Ekiti politics for decades and enjoys considerable visibility, especially in parts of Ekiti South.
Anti-establishment appeal: As the candidate of a third force, he is positioned to attract voters dissatisfied with both the APC and PDP.
Growing ADC momentum: The ADC has gained national attention following its emergence as a major opposition platform ahead of the 2027 general elections, giving Bejide additional visibility.
Experience: His background in government and diplomacy enables him to campaign on competence and administrative experience.
Weaknesses
Limited structure: Despite growing popularity, the ADC lacks the statewide grassroots machinery and election-day mobilization strength of the APC.
Resource disadvantage: Competing against an incumbent governor and established opposition structures could limit the party’s reach across all 16 local government areas.
Vote splitting: Bejide’s biggest challenge may be drawing enough votes to win rather than merely taking votes away from the APC and PDP.
Electoral Outlook
Bejide may not start as the frontrunner, but he is arguably the most consequential outsider in the race. If he succeeds in consolidating protest votes and leveraging the ADC’s rising profile, he could emerge as a major factor in the final outcome. However, converting popularity into votes across the state remains his biggest hurdle.
What Could Decide the Election
Political observers say turnout, voter distribution across key local governments, and the ability of parties to protect their votes at polling units could ultimately determine the outcome.
While Governor Oyebanji appears to hold the advantage of incumbency and party structure, the opposition is counting on voter sentiment and possible protest votes to spring a surprise.
That said, Ekiti elections have a history of producing surprises, making voter turnout and grassroots mobilization crucial factors on election day.
As Ekiti people cast their ballots today, the contest is expected to provide another crucial test of Nigeria’s democratic process, with the outcome likely to shape the state’s political direction and influence the national political landscape ahead of future elections.
In a dramatic turn of event, the SDP on Friday insisted that its governorship candidate, Ambassador Alade, remains on the ballot and is fully participating in the election.
In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Araba Rufus Aiyenigba, the SDP described reports of its withdrawal from the race as false and misleading, urging voters and the general public to disregard them.
According to the party, its National Chairman, Prof. Sadiq Umar Abubakar Gombe, and the National Working Committee (NWC) reaffirmed that the SDP remains a contestant in the election and that Alade is the party’s duly nominated candidate recognised by INEC.
“The Ekiti electorate and members of the general public are hereby assured that the SDP is listed on the ballot and its candidate, Ambassador Isaac Adebayo Alade, remains strongly in contention for the election,” the statement said.
The party noted that Alade was among the governorship candidates who participated in and signed the INEC peace accord ahead of the poll.
Meanwhile, the electoral umpire has called on eligible voters in Ekiti State to turn out en masse for the governorship election, stressing that every vote cast will play a crucial role in determining the future of the state.
In a message issued on the eve of the poll on its X platform, the electoral body urged citizens to make their voices heard by participating actively in the democratic process.
“The future will remember your choice,” INEC said, reminding voters that the election is an opportunity to influence the direction of governance and development in the state.
The commission emphasized that a vote is more than a simple mark on a ballot paper, describing it as a decision capable of shaping communities and impacting future generations.
INEC therefore encouraged voters to be present at their polling units, conduct themselves peacefully, and vote responsibly throughout the exercise.
In a related development, Police authorities have warned of severe repercussions for electoral offenders during the Ekiti governorship polls.
In a statement on Friday, the spokesman of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Anthony Placid, warned that anyone who undermines the integrity of the electoral process will be dealt with in line with the laws of the country.
“The Nigeria Police Force warns that electoral offences and any act capable of undermining the integrity of the electoral process will be dealt with in accordance with the Electoral Act and other extant laws,” the statement read in part. “Citizens are therefore urged to remain law-abiding and conduct themselves peacefully throughout the election period.”
According to Placid, the police have concluded comprehensive security deployments and operational arrangements for the Ekiti State governorship election.
He said, “The deployment covers all 2,545 polling units across the State, as well as critical infrastructure, major entry and exit routes, border communities, and other strategic locations.”
The force spokesman quoted the Commissioner of Police in charge of Election Security, Shogule Abayomi, as stating that a multi-layered security architecture has been adopted to ensure a peaceful, credible, and hitch-free electoral process.
“Security personnel and operational assets have been strategically deployed across polling units and other identified locations to guarantee the safety of voters, electoral officials, observers, and election materials throughout the exercise,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tunji Disu has assured the public that all personnel deployed for election duty have been adequately briefed on their responsibilities and rules of engagement.
IGP Disu said they will discharge their duties professionally, impartially, and in accordance with the law.
The police also disclosed a “dedicated election emergency line, 080062335577″ and encouraged the public to promptly report any security concerns to facilitate timely response and intervention.
Police authorities also called on eligible voters to come out peacefully and exercise their constitutional rights without fear or intimidation. They also cautioned against the spread of unverified information capable of causing panic or disrupting public order.
The Nigeria Police Force reassured residents of Ekiti State of its commitment to the protection of lives and property and the conduct of a free, fair, credible, and peaceful election.
