Commission reproduces ballot and result sheets after court order recognising Francis Ajala as SDP candidate.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has added the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, Francis Ajala, and his running mate, Faseke Oladipo, to the ballot for the Osun State governorship election scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2026.
The development brings the number of political parties contesting the election to 15.
INEC said the decision followed a Federal High Court judgment delivered in Abuja on July 22, 2026, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/344/2026 involving the SDP, Ajala and the Commission.
According to INEC, the court ordered it to recognise, accept, upload, process and publish Ajala’s name and particulars as the SDP governorship candidate.
Consequently, the Commission said it was reproducing the ballot papers and result sheets to reflect the inclusion of the SDP candidate.
In a statement signed by its National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, INEC said the reproduced ballot papers would arrive in Osun State on Thursday, August 13.
The materials will subsequently be distributed to local government area offices across the state in line with the Commission’s standard procedure ahead of the election.
INEC assured political parties, candidates and voters of its commitment to conducting a free, fair and credible governorship election in Osun State.