- Safiu Kehinde
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has produced fresh ballot papers and result sheets for the forthcoming Osun State Governorship Election.
INEC attributed the development to an update on the list of eligible candidates for the election.
This was made known in a statement issued on Wednesday by the commission’s Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna.
According to the statement, the development was borne out of the recent inclusion of the Social Democratic Party’s candidate, Francis Ajala, and his running mate, Faseke Oladipo.
They were reportedly added to the list in compliance with a Federal High Court’s order, bring the total number of candidates for the election to 15.
‘The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) wishes to inform the public that 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.
‘This action has been taken in compliance with the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, delivered on 22nd July 2026 in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/344/2026, between Social Democratic Party and Dr. Francis Olugbenga Ajala on the one hand and the Independent National Electoral Commission on the other.
‘The Court had ordered the Commission 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.’ Mohammed wrote.
The inclusion of the SDP candidate, according to the INEC senior official, necessitated the need to reproduce fresh ballot papers and result sheets.
Mohammed disclosed that the new election materials will arrive in Osun by Thursday for deployment to the commission’s offices across the local government areas in the state ahead of the Saturday election.
‘Consequently, the ballot papers for the election, scheduled to hold on Saturday, 15th August 2026, are being reproduced to reflect this addition, bringing to fifteen (15) the total number of political parties contesting the election.
‘The result sheets for the election are also being reproduced alongside the ballot papers to reflect the inclusion of the SDP candidate.
‘The Commission wishes to inform the public that the reproduced ballot papers will arrive in Osun State on Thursday, 13th August 2026, and will, same day, be moved to Local Government Area offices across the State, in line with its standard distribution procedure ahead of the election.’ INEC wrote further.
The commission assured political parties, candidates, and the general public of its commitment to conducting a free, fair, and credible election in Osun State.
Meanwhile, INEC failed to explain what would be done to the previous sent ballot papers and results sheets.