The Independent National Electoral Commission has declared the All Progressives Congress candidate, Governor Biodun Oyebanji, the winner of the Ekiti State governorship election held on Saturday.

The governor was re-elected after polling 319,224 votes over his closest rivals in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, Olumayokun Oluyede and African Democratic Congress, Dare Bejide, across the state’s 16 local governments.

The Returning Officer for the election, Prof Adenike Oladiji, who is the Vice Chancellor of Federal University of Technology, Akure, announced the results in the early hours of Sunday at the INEC’s headquarters on Iyin Road in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

Oladiji said, “Therefore, I, Adenike, am the returning officer for the 2026 Ekiti governorship election…Oyebanji Abiodun Abayomi, having satisfied the requirements of the law, is hereby declared the winner and stands re-elected.”

While the APC polled 319,224 votes, the PDP candidate polled 40, 533 votes, and the ADC candidate amassed 12,872 votes.

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There are 988,251 registered voters, and 384,940 are accredited.

The Labour Party governorship candidate in Ebonyi State, Comrade Chief Eze Oko Splendour, has questioned the whereabouts of the three aircraft reportedly purchased by the Ebonyi State Government and scheduled to arrive in the state in January 2026.
In a statement issued on Friday, Oko expressed concern that nearly six months after the promised arrival date, the aircraft have yet to be delivered, urging the government to provide explanations to the people of the state.
According to him, Ebonyi residents deserve to know the status of the aircraft acquisition and the reasons behind the delay.
“June is almost over, yet the aircraft are nowhere to be seen. Every concerned Ebonyi citizen should be asking questions about what is holding back their arrival,” he stated.
The Labour Party chieftain argued that the funds reportedly committed to the aircraft purchase could have been invested in industrial development and job creation, which he said would have a more direct impact on tackling unemployment in the state.
He further stressed the need for transparency and accountability in the management of public resources, describing state funds as the collective patrimony of the people.
Oko called on the government to clarify the situation surrounding the aircraft acquisition and reassure citizens that public resources are being utilized in their best interest.
He concluded by expressing optimism about the future of the state, saying, “Ebonyi State shall rise again. God is our helper.”
The Ebonyi State Government has yet to officially respond to the concerns raised by the Labour Party governorship candidate.

A coalition of opposition political parties in Enugu State has instituted a suit at the Federal High Court, Enugu Judicial Division, challenging the legality of a directive requiring political parties and candidates to pay N150 million as an advertising permit fee before conducting campaign activities through billboards and posters ahead of the 2026/2027 elections.
The suit, filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Social Democratic Party (SDP), and their respective state chairmen, names the Enugu State Structures for Signage and Advertisement Agency (ENSSAA), its General Manager, Mr. Francis Aninwike, the Enugu State House of Assembly, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), and the Nigeria Police Force as defendants.
According to the originating summons dated June 15, 2026, the plaintiffs are asking the court to determine whether ENSSAA and the Enugu State Government possess the constitutional authority to impose a mandatory N150 million advertising permit fee on political parties and candidates seeking to campaign through billboards during the 2026/2027 general elections.
The opposition parties argue that the regulation of election campaigns falls exclusively within the powers of INEC under the Electoral Act and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. They further contend that advertising regulation is a matter reserved for the National Assembly and ARCON, making any state legislation or executive directive on political campaign advertising unconstitutional and beyond the powers of the state authorities.
Among the reliefs sought, the plaintiffs are asking the court to declare the ENSSAA directive unlawful, null and void, set aside the policy, and restrain the agency and the Enugu State Government from enforcing the payment of the N150 million fee. They are also seeking an order compelling the Nigeria Police Force to protect political parties from alleged harassment or intimidation arising from the enforcement of the directive.
The suit was filed by legal practitioner Ike Ozor on behalf of the plaintiffs. The Federal High Court is expected to determine whether the controversial permit requirement violates constitutional provisions governing election campaigns and advertising regulation in Nigeria.
The legal challenge comes amid growing debate over the cost of political campaigning and the role of state agencies in regulating election-related advertisements ahead of the 2027 electoral season.

The financing arrangement for Nigeria’s flagship Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project has received international recognition at the 2026 Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group Annual Meetings in Baku, Azerbaijan, underscoring growing global confidence in the country’s infrastructure development agenda.
First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) emerged winner of the ICIEC Most Impactful Project of the Year Award for its role in securing a $626 million Murabaha financing facility for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway Development Project.
The award was presented by the Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC), a member of the IsDB Group and the world’s only Shariah-compliant multilateral insurer.
According to ICIEC, the financing package was supported by its Non-Honouring of Sovereign Financial Obligations (NHSFO) insurance policy, which covered 95 per cent of the financing provided to Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Finance.
The risk mitigation arrangement helped mobilise long-term capital for one of Nigeria’s most ambitious infrastructure projects, expected to significantly improve transportation, facilitate trade, enhance regional connectivity, and stimulate economic growth along the country’s southern corridor.
The recognition comes as the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu continues to push major infrastructure investments aimed at boosting economic productivity and attracting foreign capital.
Speaking on the significance of the award, ICIEC Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Khalid Khalafalla, described the Lagos-Calabar financing transaction as a landmark achievement that demonstrates the power of innovative Islamic finance and strategic partnerships in supporting development.
“ICIEC is proud to honour First Abu Dhabi Bank, Standard Chartered, and Agrobank for two landmark transactions that demonstrate the impact of Shariah-compliant risk mitigation,” Khalafalla said.
“These awards reflect how strong partnerships can mobilise capital, enable strategic infrastructure, expand access to trade finance, and deliver meaningful development impact across our member states.”
Khalafalla noted that ICIEC’s support for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway highlighted its growing role in de-risking investments and encouraging private-sector participation in large-scale infrastructure projects across member countries.
The event also recognised Standard Chartered Bank, which won the Most Innovative Trade Development Initiative of the Year Award for a €160 million Murabaha facility provided to Agrobank in Uzbekistan under ICIEC’s insurance cover.
The transaction marked Uzbekistan’s first Murabaha financing deal and established a Shariah-compliant framework for future trade and liquidity financing in the country.
Beyond the awards ceremony, policymakers, development finance experts, and representatives of multilateral institutions from Africa, Asia, and the Middle East gathered to discuss strategies for deepening regional integration and fostering sustainable economic growth.
During a high-level forum themed “Regional Integration for Sustainable Prosperity,” speakers emphasised the importance of cross-border infrastructure, trade facilitation, regulatory harmonisation, digital transformation, and stronger institutional cooperation as key drivers of economic resilience.
Experts from the IsDB, the World Bank, the African Development Bank (AfDB), and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) highlighted the need for stronger regional partnerships to address common challenges, including supply-chain disruptions, economic uncertainty, and climate-related risks.
Participants also examined the findings of the IsDB Regional Integration Index, which provides member countries with analytical tools to guide policy decisions, prioritise investments, and strengthen regional cooperation frameworks.
ICIEC disclosed that it has insured more than $138 billion in trade and investment transactions since commencing operations in 1994. The corporation currently serves 51 member states and maintains one of the highest credit ratings in the political risk insurance industry, including an Aa3 rating from Moody’s and an AA- rating from S&P Global Ratings.
The international recognition of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway financing is expected to further strengthen investor confidence in Nigeria’s infrastructure sector and reinforce efforts to attract sustainable financing for critical development projects.

A legal practitioner, Barrister Chinedu Ifeanyi Iloeje, has publicly declared that a man previously believed to be his son is not biologically related to him, following the outcome of a DNA test.
In a public notice published in a newspaper, Iloeje stated that he was allegedly misled by the man’s mother into believing that the individual, identified as Chinedu Francis Iloeje, was his biological son.
According to the notice, DNA testing conducted on the matter established “beyond any doubt” that the man is not his son. The lawyer further clarified that he never legally adopted the individual, despite the latter bearing the name Chinedu Francis Iloeje.

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Barrister Iloeje explained that the man’s original name is Chinedu Francis Onwualu and stressed that he has no legal or biological relationship with him.
The notice also informed members of the public, the Greater Iloeje Family, the Umuodu Village Union, Uwani Amokwe Town Union, St. Theresa’s Catholic Church Amokwe, Udi Local Government Council, and other stakeholders of his declaration.
He stated that the disclaimer was made in good faith and while of sound mind, urging the public to take note of the clarification.
The publication has sparked discussions on paternity disputes and the increasing reliance on DNA testing to resolve questions of biological parentage.