The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has included the Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate, Dr Francis Olugbenga Ajala, and his running mate, Faseke Babajimi Oladipo, on the ballot for Saturday’s Osun State governorship election.
The decision comes just days before the August 15 poll and follows a judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja directing the electoral commission to recognise Ajala as the SDP candidate.
INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, announced the development in a statement issued on Wednesday.
According to the commission, the action was taken in compliance with the judgment delivered on July 22, 2026, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/344/2026 involving the Social Democratic Party and Ajala against INEC.
The court had directed INEC to recognise, accept, upload, process and publish Ajala’s name and particulars as the governorship candidate of the SDP for the election.
Following the judgment, INEC said it had commenced the reproduction of ballot papers for the election to accommodate the SDP candidate and his running mate.
The commission is also reproducing the result sheets to reflect the addition.
The development increases the number of political parties participating in the Osun governorship election from 14 to 15, with voters expected to see the SDP candidates on the ballot when they go to the polls on Saturday.
INEC said the newly reproduced ballot papers and result sheets would be delivered to Osun State on Thursday, August 13, ahead of their distribution to the various Local Government Area offices across the state.
The commission said the distribution would be carried out in accordance with its established procedures for the deployment of sensitive electoral materials.
The late inclusion of the SDP candidate comes at a critical stage of preparations for the election, with political parties and their candidates already intensifying mobilisation across the state ahead of Saturday’s contest.
The Osun governorship election is scheduled to hold on August 15, with the incumbent administration and opposition parties competing for control of the state.
INEC’s decision also highlights the impact that judicial interventions can have on electoral preparations, particularly where court orders affect the list of candidates after ballot materials have already been produced.
With the reproduction of the ballot papers and result sheets now underway, the electoral commission is expected to complete the distribution of the updated materials before voting begins on Saturday.
The inclusion of Ajala means voters in Osun State will have an additional option when they cast their ballots, while the SDP will now formally participate in the governorship contest following the court-ordered recognition of its candidate.
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