Governor Abiodun Abayomi Oyebanji is set to be the standard-bearer for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2026 Ekiti State gubernatorial election after being formally declared the party’s sole consensus candidate.
The nomination follows the unexpected withdrawal of the only other cleared aspirant, Hon. Atinuke Oluremi Omolayo, from the party’s primary race, originally scheduled for October 27, 2025. This development effectively cleared the field for Governor Oyebanji, paving the way for a consensus arrangement ratified by the party’s national leadership.
In an official correspondence to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) dated October 13, 2025, the APC detailed the legal and procedural basis for the shift. The letter, jointly signed by the National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, and the National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, confirmed the party’s compliance with the Electoral Act 2022 and its own constitution.
Titled “Re: 2025 Ekiti State Governorship Election: Notification of Change of Mode for Primary Election and Details of Nomination of Consensus Candidate,” the document outlined that the party had received a formal letter from Mrs. Omolayo conveying her “voluntary decision to withdraw from the contest.” Crucially, her correspondence included an express endorsement of Governor Oyebanji as the consensus candidate.
“The party is compelled by law, specifically Section 84(11) of the Electoral Act, to change the mode of the Primary Election from Direct Primary to Consensus,” the APC’s letter stated. It further clarified that with only one aspirant remaining, the party is obligated to obtain written consent from any withdrawn aspirants and hold a special congress to ratify the sole candidate.
To this end, the APC has scheduled a nomination congress for Monday, October 27, 2025, at the Ekiti State Pavilion in Ado Ekiti, where delegates are expected to formally ratify Governor Oyebanji’s candidacy.
The party has invited INEC to monitor the ratification process in order to ensure adherence to electoral guidelines.
This consensus move consolidates the party’s position ahead of the 2026 poll, avoiding a potentially divisive primary battle and presenting a united front with the incumbent governor.