The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has announced the inclusion of the candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, Dr. Francis Olugbenga Ajala, and his running mate, Faseke Babajimi Oladipo, to the ballot for the Osun State Governorship Election.
The Commission said the decision was in compliance with the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, delivered on July 22, 2026, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/344/2026, between the Social Democratic Party and Dr. Francis Olugbenga Ajala, on the one hand, and INEC, on the other.
The court had ordered the Commission to forthwith recognise, accept, upload, process and publish the name and particulars of Ajala as the SDP candidate for the election.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the National Commissioner and Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, the Commission said the ballot papers for the election, scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2026, were being reproduced to reflect the inclusion of the SDP candidate.
The addition brings to 15 the number of political parties contesting the election. INEC also said the result sheets for the election were being reproduced alongside the ballot papers to reflect the inclusion.
According to Haruna, the reproduced ballot papers would arrive in Osun State on Thursday, August 13, and would be moved the same day to Local Government Area offices across the state in line with the Commission’s standard distribution procedure ahead of the election.
INEC assured political parties, candidates and the general public of its commitment to conducting a free, fair and credible governorship election in Osun State.
