OSUN POLL: INEC INCLUDES SDP ON BALLOT, DISTRIBUTES SENSITIVE MATERIALS

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By:Tajudeen Aminat

The Independent National Electoral Commission has reprinted the ballot papers for the Osun State governorship election to include the candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Dr Olugbenga Ajala, just three days before the poll.

The commission is also scheduled to distribute sensitive election materials to the 30 local government areas of the state on Thursday ahead of Saturday’s election.

The distribution is expected to take place at the Central Bank of Nigeria premises in Osogbo, the state capital.

The state INEC spokesperson, Musa Olurode, confirmed the development in a telephone interview with The PUNCH, saying journalists would be informed of the time for the commencement of the exercise.

The development followed a Federal High Court judgment in Abuja delivered on July 22, 2026, directing INEC to recognise and include Ajala and his running mate, Faseke Oladipo, as the SDP’s candidates in the election.

The judgment was delivered in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/344/2026, filed by the SDP and Ajala against INEC.

According to INEC, the court ordered the commission to “forthwith recognise, accept, upload, process and publish” Ajala’s name and particulars as the SDP governorship candidate.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, the commission said it had consequently begun reproducing the ballot papers to reflect the inclusion of the SDP candidate.

INEC said the result sheets were also being reproduced to accommodate the addition.

With Ajala’s inclusion, the number of political parties participating in the August 15, 2026 governorship election has risen to 15.

The commission assured political parties, candidates and the electorate of its commitment to conducting a free, fair and credible election in the state.

Reacting to his inclusion on the ballot, Ajala expressed optimism that the SDP could still win the election despite having limited time to campaign.

Speaking with The PUNCH on Wednesday, Ajala said the party had spent considerable time in court pursuing the case that eventually led to its inclusion in the election.

He acknowledged the disadvantage created by the late inclusion, noting that other candidates had already covered significant ground in their campaigns.

“In the next 48 hours, there is very little we can do because it is like a 100-metre race. Some of the contestants have reached 75 metres out of the 100 metres.

“We are now coming out to the starting point. You know, it will be an unfair competition. We will do our best. But let us see what the result will be before we can say decisively which step we will take,” he said.

Despite the limited campaign window, Ajala remained confident about the party’s prospects.

“I am very optimistic about victory. In fact, we are joyous,” he added.

The development brings the total number of political parties contesting the Osun governorship election to 15.