72 Hours to Osun Governorship Election, INEC Adds SDP Candidate to Ballot

By Emmanuel Kwada

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 Osun State Governorship Election scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2026.

The development comes just 72 hours before voters across the state are expected to cast their ballots, bringing the number of political parties contesting the governorship election to 15.

INEC announced the inclusion in a statement issued on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Commission’s Information and Voter Education Committee.

According to the Commission, the decision followed a judgment delivered by the Federal High Court in Abuja on July 22, 2026, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/344/2026, involving the Social Democratic Party, Dr. Francis Olugbenga Ajala and INEC.

The court directed INEC to recognise, accept, upload, process and publish Ajala’s name and particulars as the SDP candidate for the election.

INEC said it had consequently commenced the reproduction of the ballot papers to accommodate the SDP candidate and his running mate.

“The candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) for the Osun State Governorship Election, Dr. Francis Olugbenga Ajala and his running mate, Faseke Babajimi Oladipo, have been added to the ballot for the election,” the Commission said.

The Commission also confirmed that the result sheets for the election are being reproduced alongside the ballot papers to reflect the addition.

INEC said the reproduced ballot papers are expected to arrive in Osun State on Thursday, August 13, one day before the final preparations for the election, and will be distributed the same day to Local Government Area offices across the state.

The Commission said the distribution would follow its standard procedure for deploying sensitive electoral materials ahead of Election Day.

The late inclusion of the SDP candidate adds another dimension to an already closely watched governorship election, coming only three days before voters are scheduled to elect the next governor of Osun State.

INEC, however, assured political parties, candidates and voters that the electoral process would proceed as planned.

The Commission reiterated its commitment to conducting a free, fair and credible election in the state.

The Osun governorship election is scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2026, with voters expected to choose from candidates representing 15 political parties following the inclusion of the SDP candidate.