A total of 885 delegates drawn from the 16 local government areas of Ekiti State are expected to take part in the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary election scheduled for Monday.
The exercise, which will be held at the popular Ekiti Parapo Pavilion in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, will determine the party’s flag bearer for the June 20, 2026, governorship election.
The delegates were elected on Saturday during the party’s delegates congress held across the 177 wards in the 16 local government areas of the state.
Five delegates emerged from each ward in the peaceful exercise, which was supervised by officials from the APC National Secretariat led by Mr. Jaret Tenebe, Chairman of the Delegates Congress Committee and Edo APC Chairman, in the presence of officials from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies.
Although four aspirants obtained the APC expression of interest and nomination forms, Governor Biodun Oyebanji remains the only candidate in the race following the disqualification and withdrawal of other aspirants.
Those who obtained nomination forms included Oyebanji, Engr. Kayode Ojo, Mrs. Oluremi Omolayo, and Mrs. Olajumoke Abimbola.
After the screening exercise, only Oyebanji and Omolayo were cleared to contest, while Ojo and Olajumoke were disqualified for failing to meet the mandatory requirement of securing five valid nominators per local government area as stipulated in the APC constitution.
Omolayo later withdrew from the contest, declaring her support for Governor Oyebanji.
Her withdrawal, according to party sources, was made in the spirit of unity and loyalty to the collective advancement of the APC in Ekiti State.
With Omolayo’s exit, Oyebanji remains the sole aspirant in the APC governorship primary.
Despite the primary being uncontested, party officials stated that delegates will still cast their votes to officially affirm Governor Oyebanji’s candidacy in line with the APC constitution and internal electoral regulations.
An APC chieftain and Special Adviser to the Governor on Information, Hon. Taiwo Olatunbosun, commended the peaceful environment that has defined the run-up to the primary, describing it as a demonstration of the unity and harmony within the Ekiti APC.
He noted that the party had learnt valuable lessons from past experiences and was determined to approach the June 20 governorship election as one united and strong organisation.
Security has been reinforced around the Ekiti Parapo Pavilion ahead of the primary. Officers from the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps are expected to be present to ensure order and safety.
Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission and the APC National Secretariat will also be on hand to observe the exercise and ensure compliance with party and electoral regulations.
