EKITI STATE GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION IS ON SATURDAY, JUNE 20, 2026 15 days to go As of June 2026, the major candidates associated with the Ekiti governorship election according to the INEC final list in January for the June 20,2026 election include 13parties/candidates (all male governorship candidates) Notably, the PDP (Wole oluyede) and SDP candidates were omitted from the final list released by INEC due to ongoing legal disputes within those parties.

• Labour Party (LP): Oyebanji Olajuyin Ikusayede Gbegbe (67) — Running mate: Ayokunle Okumade / Okumade Ayokunle Odumayo (45) • New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP): Blessing Abegunde / Abegunde Ayobami Blessing (35) — Running mate: Francis Ajayi (65) • People’s Redemption Party (PRP): Olaniyi Ayodele / Olaniyi Olanrewaju Ayodele Praise (49) — Running mate: Modupe Adebiyi (35) • Young Progressive Party (YPP): Osinkolu Olusegun Ayodele — Running mate: Arowolo David Olusesan (replaced earlier nominees) • Zenith Labour Party (ZLP): Victor Adetunji / Victor Adetunji Damilola (38) — Running mate: Adesina Oyeniyi (35)

I’m open to counter point: Better intelligence, surveillance, arrests, and prosecutions reduce kidnappings more effectively than paying of ransom. The money (ransom) can be used to buy more weapons, recruit members, and fund future attacks.There have been cases where victims were harmed even after payments were made.