The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has announced the outcome of its governorship primary election in Ekiti State, with Ambassador Dare Bejide emerging as the party’s candidate for the June 2026 governorship election. Bejide secured 15,466 votes, outpacing four other contenders, including former Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Prof. Olusola Eleka, who garnered 12,003 votes.
The primary election, which took place across the state’s 16 local government areas, saw the participation of other aspirants, including Barr. Femi Adegbite, who received 9,141 votes, Otunba Emmanuel Fayose with 2,865 votes, and Apostle Ayodele Adesua with 135 votes. However, results from Ilejemeje and Oye Local Government Areas were set aside, while the results from Emure Local Government were entirely cancelled due to alleged irregularities.
The Chairperson of the ADC Primary Election Committee, Senator Patricia Naomi Akwashiki, announced the results in the presence of officials from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, and journalists. She commended the party members for their orderly conduct during the accreditation and voting processes but condemned attempts by some individuals to disrupt the collation of results.
Akwashiki advised any aggrieved aspirants to direct their complaints to the party’s Appeal Committee, which has been established to review and address petitions arising from the primary election. She also expressed appreciation to INEC officials, security agencies, and the media for their cooperation and professional conduct throughout the exercise.
The primary election was not without incident, as reports of skirmishes emerged in Ikere, Oye, and Emure, allegedly resulting in inflated figures and conflicting results. Supporters of Prof. Eleka staged a protest, citing electoral irregularities in favour of Bejide, and briefly obstructed the announcement of the final results.
As the ADC prepares to face off against other parties in the Ekiti 2026 governorship race, Ambassador Bejide is set to lead the party’s campaign efforts. With the primary election now concluded, the party will focus on mobilizing support and refining its strategy ahead of the June 2026 election. The outcome of the primary election marks a significant milestone in the state’s electoral calendar, as political parties intensify their campaigns in the run-up to the governorship election.