Zainab Abioye
The Independent National Electoral Commission has commenced the reproduction of ballot papers and result sheets for the Osun State governorship election following a court order directing the commission to include the Social Democratic Party candidate, Dr Francis Olugbenga Ajala, in the poll.
INEC said the reprinted materials would reflect the inclusion of Ajala and his running mate, Faseke Babajimi Oladipo, whose names were previously excluded from the electoral materials.
The commission disclosed this in a statement signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, on Wednesday.
The development follows the judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja delivered on July 22, 2026, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/344/2026, involving the Social Democratic Party and Ajala against INEC.
According to the commission, the court directed it to immediately recognise, accept, upload, process and publish Ajala’s name and particulars as the SDP candidate for the August 15 governorship election.
INEC said the reproduced ballot papers would arrive in Osun State on Thursday, August 13, and would be distributed the same day to the commission’s offices in the 30 local government areas in accordance with its established distribution procedures.
The commission also confirmed that the result sheets for the election were being reproduced to accommodate the SDP candidate.
With the addition of the SDP ticket, 15 political parties will now contest Saturday’s governorship election in Osun State.
INEC said the adjustment was necessary to ensure full compliance with the court judgment and to protect the integrity of the electoral process.
The commission assured political parties, candidates and voters that it remained committed to conducting a free, fair and credible election.
The late inclusion of the SDP candidate comes just two days before voters across Osun State are expected to cast their ballots, placing additional logistical demands on INEC as it races to distribute the revised electoral materials across the state.
The commission, however, did not indicate that the development would affect the scheduled date of the election.
The Osun governorship election is billed to hold on Saturday, August 15, with voters expected to elect the governor who will lead the state for the next four years.
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