The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced the reprinting of ballot papers and result sheets for the August 15 Osun State Governorship Election following the inclusion of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, Dr Francis Olugbenga Ajala, on the ballot.
Ajala and his running mate, Faseke Babajimi Oladipo, were added to the list of candidates following a Federal High Court judgment directing INEC to recognise and publish their names and particulars for the election.
The Commission disclosed this in a statement issued by the National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna.
INEC said the decision to reproduce the electoral materials was in compliance with the judgment delivered by the Federal High Court in Abuja on July 22, 2026, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/344/2026, filed by the Social Democratic Party and Ajala against the Commission.
According to INEC, the court ordered it to “forthwith recognise, accept, upload, process and publish” Ajala’s name and particulars as the SDP candidate for the governorship election.
The Commission said the reproduced ballot papers would arrive in Osun State on Thursday, August 13, and be distributed the same day to Local Government Area offices across the state in accordance with its established distribution procedures.
INEC said the result sheets were also being reproduced to reflect the addition of the SDP candidate and ensure that the electoral materials correspond with the final list of candidates.
“With the addition of the SDP candidate, the total number of political parties contesting the governorship election, scheduled for Saturday, 15th August 2026, now stands at 15,” the Commission said.
The development comes just two days before the governorship poll, with INEC expected to complete the distribution of the newly reproduced materials ahead of voting.
The Commission assured political parties, candidates and voters that it remained committed to conducting a free, fair, transparent and credible election in Osun State.
