The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has added the Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate, Dr. Francis Olugbenga Ajala, and his running mate, Faseke Babajimi Oladipo, to the ballot for the Osun State Governorship Election scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2026.
INEC made this known in a statement issued on Wednesday by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, saying the decision was taken in compliance with a Federal High Court judgment delivered in Abuja on July 22, 2026.
According to the Commission, the judgment, delivered in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/344/2026 between the Social Democratic Party and Ajala against INEC, ordered the Commission to “forthwith recognise, accept, upload, process and publish the name and particulars of Dr. Francis Olugbenga Ajala as the candidate of the Social Democratic Party.”
INEC said the ballot papers for the election were being reproduced to reflect the addition of the SDP candidate, bringing the number of political parties contesting the election to 15.
The Commission also disclosed that the result sheets for the election were being reproduced alongside the ballot papers to reflect the inclusion of the SDP candidate.
INEC said 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 its standard distribution procedure ahead of the election.
The Commission assured political parties, candidates and the general public of its commitment to conducting a “free, fair, and credible election” in Osun State.
