The All Progressives Congress (APC) has officially adopted Governor Biodun Oyebanji as its consensus candidate for the 2026 governorship election in Ekiti State.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, announced the decision in a statement on Tuesday, explaining that the APC had switched from a direct primary to a consensus mode following the withdrawal of one of the two cleared aspirants, Mrs. Atinuke Oluremi Omolayo.
According to the statement, Mrs. Omolayo voluntarily stepped down from the race and declared her support for Governor Oyebanji, endorsing him as the party’s consensus flag bearer.
“The All Progressives Congress has decided to adopt the consensus mode for its governorship primary election in Ekiti State,” the statement read. “This decision follows the voluntary withdrawal of Mrs. Atinuke Oluremi Omolayo, one of the two cleared aspirants, who has endorsed Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji as the party’s consensus candidate in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022, and the party’s constitution.”
The APC further stated that the process complies with Sections 84(9) and (11) of the Electoral Act, which outline the procedures for adopting consensus candidates.
To formalise the process, the party released a schedule of activities, with the delegate congress set for Saturday, October 25, 2025. The appeal session for the delegate congress will follow on Sunday, October 26, while a special nomination congress to ratify Oyebanji’s candidacy is slated for Monday, October 27, 2025.
Morka commended Mrs. Omolayo for her “spirit of sportsmanship” and commitment to the unity and progress of the APC. He urged party members and stakeholders in Ekiti State to remain united and work collectively toward victory in the upcoming June 2026 governorship election.
The development brings an end to the brief internal contest between Oyebanji and Omolayo, paving the way for the governor’s formal ratification as the APC’s candidate.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed the Ekiti governorship election for Saturday, July 20, 2026.