The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has ordered the reproduction of ballot papers and result sheets for the Osun State governorship election to accommodate the candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP.
The guber election is scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2026.
The National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, conveyed this in a statement on Wednesday.
INEC said Dr. Francis Olugbenga Ajala and his running mate, Faseke Babajimi Oladipo, have now been included on the ballot.
According to the electoral body, the decision followed a 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 vs INEC.
The commission said it would comply fully with the court order to ensure the SDP candidate participates in the governorship poll.
According to the commission, the court had ordered it to “forthwith recognise, accept, upload, process and publish” the name and particulars of Ajala as the SDP candidate for the election.
Consequently, INEC said the ballot papers were being reproduced to reflect the addition, increasing the number of political parties participating in the governorship election to 15.
The result sheets are also being reproduced alongside the ballot papers to accommodate the SDP candidate, the commission said.
The development comes just days before voters in Osun State are expected to go to the polls to elect the state’s next governor, placing additional logistical demands on the electoral commission as it prepares for the Saturday election.
INEC said the reproduced ballot papers would arrive in Osun State on Thursday, August 13, and would be distributed the same day to Local Government Area offices across the state in accordance with its established distribution procedures.
The commission’s decision follows the Federal High Court judgment, which altered the electoral preparations concerning the SDP after the commission had earlier proceeded with arrangements for the election without Ajala on the ballot.
INEC assured political parties, candidates and voters that it remained committed to conducting a free, fair, and credible election in Osun State.