By Faith Anisiobi, The Sight News
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.
INEC said the decision followed a judgment delivered by the Federal High Court, Abuja, on July 22, 2026, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/344/2026, involving the SDP, Ajala and the electoral commission.
According to the commission, the court ordered it to recognize, accept, upload, process and publish Ajala’s name and particulars as the SDP governorship candidate.
Consequently, INEC said the ballot papers for the election, scheduled for Saturday, August 15, are being reproduced to reflect the inclusion of the SDP candidate.
The commission also said the result sheets would be reproduced alongside the ballot papers, bringing the total number of political parties contesting the election to 15.
In a statement on Wednesday, National Commissioner and Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, said the reproduced ballot papers would arrive in Osun State on Thursday, August 13.
He added that the materials would be moved to Local Government Area offices across the state on the same day, in accordance with the commission’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.
