The Independent National Electoral Commission has added the Social Democratic Party candidate, Dr Francis Olugbenga Ajala, and his running mate, Faseke Babajimi Oladipo, to the ballot for the Osun State governorship election.
The electoral umpire disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday by its National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna.
The electoral body said the decision followed a judgment 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.
According to the commission, the court directed it to recognise, accept, upload, process and publish Ajala’s name and particulars as the SDP governorship candidate.
INEC said it had consequently begun reproducing the ballot papers for the election to accommodate the SDP candidate.
The commission added that the result sheets were also being reproduced to reflect the change.
With the inclusion of the SDP, INEC said 15 political parties would now contest the Osun governorship election.
The election is scheduled to hold on Saturday, August 15, 2026.
INEC said the reproduced ballot papers are expected to arrive in Osun State on Thursday, August 13, before being distributed to Local Government Area offices across the state on the same day in line with its standard procedure.
The commission assured political parties, candidates and voters of its commitment to conducting a free, fair and credible governorship election in Osun State.
