Osun 2026: INEC Adds SDP to Ballot After Court Order
The Independent National Electoral Commission has complied with a court order by adding Social Democratic Party candidate Dr Francis Ajala and his running mate, Faseke Oladipo, to the ballot for the...
The Independent National Electoral Commission has complied with a court order by adding Social Democratic Party candidate Dr Francis Ajala and his running mate, Faseke Oladipo, to the ballot for the Osun State governorship election scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2026.
The commission announced this in a statement by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, National Commissioner for Information and Voter Education, saying it would reprint the ballot papers to include the SDP in line with the Federal High Court, Abuja, judgment delivered on July 22, 2026.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) initially omitted the Social Democratic Party (SDP) from the initial candidate list due to a leadership and primary election dispute within the party over its rightful governorship nominee.
However, the Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/344/2026, in a matter between the Social Democratic Party and Dr Francis Olugbenga Ajala on one hand, and INEC on the other, overruled the decision of the electoral body not to recognise the party and its candidate.
According to the statement issued by INEC, the Federal High Court directed the electoral commission to forthwith recognise and accept the upload process and publish the name and particulars of Dr Adebayo Ajala as the party’s sole candidate for the Osun State governorship election. The inclusion of the SDP candidate brings the number of political parties contesting the election to 15.
The statement reads, “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 judgement of the Federal High Court, Abuja, delivered on 22nd July 2026 in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/344/2026, between the 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.
“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, the same day, be moved to Local Government Area offices across the State, in line with its standard distribution procedure ahead of the election.
“INEC assures political parties, candidates, and the general public of its commitment to conducting a free, fair, and credible election in Osun State.”
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