With just days to the August 15 Osun State governorship election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed the inclusion of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, Dr. Francis Olugbenga Ajala, and his running mate, Faseke Babajimi Oladipo, on the ballot.
The development followed a judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja ordering the commission to recognise, accept, upload, process and publish Ajala’s name and particulars as the SDP governorship candidate.
INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, confirmed the development in a statement, saying the commission had begun reproducing ballot papers and result sheets to accommodate the SDP candidates.
The decision comes two days after the SDP National Chairman, Prof. Sadiq Umar Abubakar Gombe, told ARISE News that the party would approach the court to challenge INEC’s action concerning its candidate.
“The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) wishes to inform the public that the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) for the Osun State Governorship Election, Dr. Francis Olugbenga Ajala and his running mate, Faseke Babajimi Oladipo, have been added to the ballot for the election,” the commission said.
INEC explained that it acted in compliance with the Federal High Court judgment delivered on July 22, 2026, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/344/2026 between the SDP and Ajala on one side and the electoral commission on the other.
According to the commission, the court ordered it to “forthwith recognise, accept, upload, process and publish” Ajala’s name and particulars as the SDP candidate.
Consequently, INEC said it was reproducing the ballot papers already prepared for Saturday’s election to reflect the addition of the SDP candidate.
The inclusion brings to 15 the total number of political parties fielding candidates in the governorship election.
“The ballot papers for the election, scheduled to hold on Saturday, August 15 2026, are being reproduced to reflect this addition, bringing to fifteen (15) the total number of political parties contesting the election,” INEC said.
The commission disclosed that the result sheets for the election were similarly being reproduced to reflect the SDP’s inclusion.
With the election only days away, INEC said the replacement electoral materials were expected to arrive in Osun State on Thursday, August 13, two days before voting.
The ballot papers would be moved to the commission’s Local Government Area offices across the state on the same day in accordance with its standard procedure for distributing sensitive election materials.
“The commission wishes to inform the public that the reproduced ballot papers will arrive in Osun State on Thursday, August 13 2026, and will, same day, be moved to Local Government Area offices across the State, in line with its standard distribution procedure ahead of the election,” it stated.
The late adjustment to the ballot comes as preparations enter their final stage for the governorship election, with political parties and candidates concluding campaigns ahead of Saturday’s vote.
INEC assured political parties, candidates and voters that the changes would not undermine its preparations for the election.
It reiterated its commitment to conducting what it described as a free, fair and credible governorship election in Osun State on August 15.
Friday Olokor
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