Osun Election: INEC Adds SDP to Ballot, Reprints Result Sheets Days to Poll

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has included the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and its governorship candidate, Dr Francis Olugbenga Ajala, in the ballot for the Osun State governorship election scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2026. The development comes just days before voters are expected to elect the next governor of the state.

INEC disclosed the development in a statement issued on Wednesday by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Commission’s Information and Voter Education Committee. The electoral body said the decision was taken in compliance with a judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja concerning the SDP and its candidate.

The court judgment was delivered on July 22, 2026, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/344/2026, involving the Social Democratic Party and Ajala against INEC. The court directed the electoral commission to recognise, accept, upload, process and publish Ajala’s name and particulars as the SDP candidate for the election.

Following the judgment, INEC said it had commenced the reproduction of the ballot papers to accommodate the SDP candidate. Ajala will contest the governorship election alongside his running mate, Faseke Babajimi Oladipo, whose name will also appear as part of the SDP ticket.

The commission also confirmed that it was reproducing the official result sheets for the election. The move is intended to ensure that the election materials used at polling and collation stages correspond with the final list of candidates participating in the contest.

The inclusion of the SDP has consequently increased the number of political parties contesting the Osun governorship election from 14 to 15. The change means voters will have the SDP option on the ballot alongside the other parties participating in Saturday’s poll.

INEC said the newly reproduced ballot papers were expected to arrive in Osun State on Thursday, August 13, after which they would be distributed to the commission’s Local Government Area offices across the state. The distribution, according to the commission, will follow its established procedures for deploying sensitive election materials.

The late alteration to the ballot has added another logistical responsibility for INEC as the commission completes preparations for the election. However, the electoral body said the reproduction of the materials was necessary to give effect to the court judgment and ensure that the SDP candidate is properly reflected in the election.

The development also underscores the impact that judicial decisions can have on electoral preparations, particularly when they are delivered close to polling day. Rather than proceed with materials that excluded a court-recognised candidate, INEC has moved to amend both the ballot papers and result sheets before the election.

With the legal directive now reflected in the election materials, attention shifts to the final distribution of sensitive materials and the conduct of the poll on Saturday. INEC has assured political parties, candidates and voters of its commitment to conducting a free, fair and credible election in Osun State.