The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has added the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, Francis Olugbenga Ajala, and his running mate, Faseke Babajimi Oladipo, to the ballot for the Osun State Governorship Election scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2026.
Mohammed Kudu Haruna, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Commission’s Information and Voter Education Committee, announced the development in a statement issued on Wednesday.
According to the electoral body, the inclusion follows a judgement delivered by the Federal High Court in Abuja on July 22, 2026, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/344/2026, involving the SDP, Ajala and INEC.
The court had ordered INEC to recognise, accept, upload, process and publish Ajala’s name and particulars as the SDP candidate for the election.
In compliance with the judgement, INEC said it was reproducing the ballot papers for the election to reflect the addition of the SDP candidate. The result sheets are also being reproduced accordingly.
The development brings the number of political parties contesting the Osun governorship election to 15.
INEC said the reproduced ballot papers are expected to arrive in Osun State on Thursday, August 13, and will be distributed the same day to Local Government Area offices across the state in line with its standard electoral distribution procedure.
The Commission assured political parties, candidates and voters of its commitment to conducting a free, fair and credible governorship election in the state.
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