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 disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee.
The commission said the decision followed a Federal High Court judgment delivered in Abuja on July 22, 2026, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/344/2026 between the SDP and Ajala against INEC.
According to the commission, the court ordered it 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 it was reproducing the ballot papers and result sheets to reflect the inclusion of the SDP candidate, bringing the number of political parties contesting the election to 15.
The commission 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.
INEC also assured political parties, candidates and the general public of its commitment to conducting a “free, fair, and credible election” in Osun State.
