The Independent National Electoral Commission has reproduced ballot papers for the Osun State governorship election to accommodate the candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Dr Olugbenga Ajala, three days to the poll.
This is as the commission is set to distribute sensitive materials for Saturday’s governorship poll to the 30 local government areas in the state today (Thursday).
The distribution is expected to be held on the premises of the Central Bank of Nigeria in Osogbo, the state capital.
The state INEC spokesperson, Musa Olurode, in a telephone interview with The PUNCH, said, “Sensitive materials will be distributed tomorrow, and journalists will be informed of the time the exercise will commence.”
Earlier, in a statement on Wednesday, signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, the commission said Ajala and his running mate, Faseke Oladipo, had been added to the ballot following a judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, delivered on July 22, 2026.
The judgment was delivered in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/344/2026, between the SDP and Ajala, on one hand, and INEC, on the other.
According to the commission, the court ordered it to “forthwith recognise, accept, upload, process and publish” the name and particulars of Ajala as the SDP governorship candidate.
INEC said, “Consequently, the ballot papers for the election, scheduled for Saturday, 15th August 2026, are being reproduced to reflect this addition, bringing to fifteen (15) the total number of political parties contesting the election.”
It added that the result sheets for the election were also being reproduced alongside the ballot papers to reflect the inclusion of the SDP candidate.
The commission assured political parties, candidates and the general public of its commitment to conducting a free, fair and credible election in Osun State.
Following his inclusion, Ajala said the party was poised for victory.
Ajala disclosed this during a telephone interview with The PUNCH on Wednesday after INEC listed the party among those fielding candidates in the poll.
Although Ajala admitted the party has limited time to canvass for votes, he, however, said despite the setback, SDP could still emerge victorious in the poll.
Asked what he was doing during the time of waiting for INEC’s listing, Ajala said, “We were in court throughout before we got judgments.
“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.
“I am very optimistic about victory. In fact, we are joyous.”
The development brings the number of political parties contesting the election to 15.
Source: punchng.com
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