The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says 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 action was taken in compliance with the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, delivered on July 22, 2026, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/344/2026, between the Social Democratic Party and Dr Francis Olugbenga Ajala on one hand and INEC on the other.
In a statement by the INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, the court ordered the Commission to forthwith recognise, accept, upload, process and publish the name and particulars of Ajala as the SDP candidate.
Consequently, the ballot papers for the election, scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2026, are being reproduced to reflect the addition, bringing the total number of political parties contesting the election to 15.
Haruna said the result sheets for the election were also being reproduced alongside the ballot papers to reflect the inclusion of the SDP candidate.
He said the reproduced ballot papers would arrive in Osun State on Thursday, August 13, and would be moved the same day to Local Government Area offices across the state, in line with the Commission’s standard distribution procedure ahead of the election.
He said INEC remained committed to conducting a free, fair and credible election in Osun State.
