The Governor of Ekiti State, Abiodun Abayomi Oyebanji, has officially emerged as the consensus candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the June 20, 2026, governorship election in the state.

This development followed the voluntary withdrawal of the only other aspirant, Hon. Atinuke Oluremi Omolayo, from the party?s primary election earlier scheduled for October 27, 2025.

In a letter jointly signed by the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, and the National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, the party formally notified the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of its decision to adopt Oyebanji as the consensus candidate.

Dated October 13, 2025, and received the same day by INEC, the letter titled ?Re: 2025 Ekiti State Governorship Election: Notification of Change of Mode for Primary Election and Details of Nomination of Consensus Candidate? confirmed the party?s switch from the direct primary mode to the consensus arrangement.

The two-page correspondence, sighted by our reporter, referenced earlier communications with INEC dated July 30, August 6, and October 9, 2025, indicating the party?s compliance with all relevant provisions of the Electoral Act and APC Constitution regarding the consensus process.

?Sequel to the above-quoted correspondence, we wish to formally inform the independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of recent developments relating to the conduct of the Party?s Governorship Primary Election in Exit State.

?Two aspirants were cleared to contest the primary election scheduled to be held on 27th October 2025 through the Direct Primary mode. The cleared aspirants are Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji and (2) Mrs. Atinuke Oluremi Omolayo.

?The party has, however, received a letter from Mrs. Atinuke Oluremi Omolayo, one of the two cleared aspirants, conveying her voluntary decision to withdraw from the contest.

?In her letter, Mrs. Omolayo expressed her endorsement of Governor Biodun Abeyomi Oyebanji as the consensus Candidate and affirmed her support for any consensus arrangement adopted by the party in nominating as flag bearer, in accordance with the Electoral Act 2022 and the constitution of the All Progressives Congress (APC). A copy of the letter is attached herewith.

The party further stated that the development leaves Governor Oyebanji as the sole aspirant and consensus candidate for the Governorship Primary Election.

?Consequently, in view of Mrs. Omolayo?s voluntary withdrawal and the endorsement of a consensus arrangement, the party is compelled by law, with Section 84 (11) of the Electoral Act, to change the mode of the Primary Election from Direct Primary to Consensus.

?By virtue of Section 84(9) and (11) of the Electoral Act 2022, where a political party adopts a consensus candidate, it is required to:

(I) Obtain the written consent of a cleared aspirant for the position, signifying their voluntary withdrawal and endorsement of the consensus candidate, and

(ii) Conduct a nomination congress at the designated venue to ratify the choice of the consensus candidate.

?In compliance with the above provisions, find attached the written consent of the only other cleared aspirant, signifying her voluntary withdrawal and endorsement of Governor Oyebanji as the consensus candidate.?

The party then said that in pursuant to Section 84(11) of the Electoral Act, the nomination congress has been scheduled to hold by 10 am on Monday, 27th October 2026, at Ekiti State Pavilion, New Iyin Road, Ado Ekiti, to ratify the only remaining cleared aspirant.

The party in the letter also announced an amended schedule of activities and a timetable for ratification of the consensus candidate and invited the electoral body to monitor the relevant activities as required by law. (The Nation)

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