Isiyaku Ahmed
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has added the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, Dr. Francis Olugbenga Ajala, and his running mate, Faseke Babajimi Oladipo, to the ballot for the Osun State Governorship Election scheduled for Saturday, 15 August 2026.
INEC said the decision followed a judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, delivered on 22 July 2026, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/344/2026 involving the SDP and Ajala as plaintiffs against the commission.
According to the commission, the court ordered it to recognise, accept, upload, process and publish Ajala’s name and particulars as the SDP governorship candidate.
Consequently, INEC said the ballot papers for the election were being reproduced to reflect the inclusion of the SDP candidate, bringing the number of political parties contesting the election to 15.
The commission added that the result sheets for the election were also being reproduced alongside the ballot papers to reflect the change.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, National Commissioner and Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee, the commission said the reproduced ballot papers would arrive in Osun State on Thursday, August 13.
Haruna said the materials would be distributed the same day to Local Government Area offices across the state in accordance with INEC’s standard distribution procedure ahead of the election.
INEC assured political parties, candidates and the electorate of its commitment to conducting a free, fair and credible governorship election in Osun State.
