INEC Adds SDP Candidate to Osun Governorship Ballot

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has added the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Francis Olugbenga Ajala, and his running mate, Faseke Babajimi Oladipo, to the ballot for the Osun State Governorship Election scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2026.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.

He 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 and Ajala against INEC.

According to him, the court directed the Commission to immediately recognise, accept, upload, process and publish the name and particulars of Ajala as the SDP governorship candidate.

Haruna said, in compliance with the judgment, INEC had commenced the reproduction of the ballot papers to accommodate the SDP candidate.

He explained that the development had increased the number of political parties participating in the election to 15.

He added that the result sheets for the election were also being reproduced to reflect the inclusion of the SDP candidate.

The Commission said the reproduced ballot papers were expected to arrive in Osun State on Thursday, August 13, and would subsequently be distributed to Local Government Area offices across the state in accordance with its standard electoral procedures.

INEC assured political parties, candidates and the electorate of its commitment to conducting a free, fair and credible governorship election in Osun State.

The addition of the SDP candidate comes just days before the election, with INEC urging stakeholders and voters to take note of the updated ballot and result sheets.