ABUJA — The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has added the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, Dr. Francis Olugbenga Ajala, and his running mate, Faseke Babajimi Oladipo, to the ballot for the August 15, 2026 Osun State Governorship Election.
INEC disclosed this in a statement issued by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Commission’s Information and Voter Education Committee.
The Commission said the decision followed a judgment delivered by the Federal High Court, Abuja, on July 22, 2026, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/344/2026, involving the SDP, Ajala and INEC.
According to the Commission, the court ordered it to recognise, accept, upload, process and publish the name and particulars of Ajala as the SDP governorship candidate.
INEC said the ballot papers for the election, scheduled for Saturday, August 15, are being reproduced to accommodate the SDP candidate, bringing the number of political parties contesting the election to 15.
The Commission added that the result sheets are also being reproduced to reflect the inclusion of the SDP candidate.
It said the reproduced ballot papers are expected to arrive in Osun State on Thursday, August 13, and will subsequently be distributed to Local Government Area offices across the state in accordance with its standard procedure.
INEC assured political parties, candidates and voters of its commitment to conducting a free, fair and credible governorship election in Osun State.
