The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reprinted ballot papers for the Osun State governorship election to include the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Dr Olugbenga Ajala, just three days before the poll.
The commission is also expected to distribute sensitive election materials to the 30 local government areas of Osun State on Thursday, August 13, 2026. The exercise will take place at the premises of the Central Bank of Nigeria in Osogbo.
INEC spokesperson in the state, Musa Olurode, confirmed the development in a telephone interview with The PUNCH, saying journalists would be informed of the time the distribution would commence.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, INEC said Ajala and his running mate, Faseke Oladipo, were added to the ballot following a Federal High Court judgment delivered in Abuja on July 22, 2026.
The judgment, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/344/2026, was between the SDP and Ajala on one side and INEC on the other.
According to the commission, the court ordered INEC to “forthwith recognise, accept, upload, process and publish” the name and particulars of Ajala as the SDP governorship candidate.
INEC stated that the ballot papers for the election scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2026, were being reproduced to reflect the inclusion of the SDP candidate, bringing the total number of political parties participating in the election to 15.
The commission added that the election result sheets were also being reprinted to accommodate the SDP and assured political parties, candidates and the public of its commitment to conducting a free, fair and credible election.
Reacting to his inclusion, Olugbenga Ajala expressed optimism that the SDP could still win the election despite having little time left for campaign activities.
Speaking with The PUNCH on Wednesday, Ajala said the party had spent much of the period in court pursuing the case that eventually secured its recognition.
He acknowledged that the party was entering the race late, describing the situation as similar to a 100-metre race in which other contestants had already covered about 75 metres before the SDP reached the starting point.
Ajala said the party would still do its best in the remaining 48 hours before the election and added that he remained confident of victory.
With the SDP now officially listed by INEC, the number of parties contesting the August 15, 2026 Osun governorship election has increased to 15.
