By Priye Briggs
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reinstated the Social Democratic Party (SDP) on the ballot for the Osun State governorship election, adding the party’s candidate Francis Ajala and his running mate Faseke Oladipo to the list of contenders.
With the inclusion, the number of political parties on the ballot for the election scheduled for Saturday now stands at 15.
INEC said the move follows a directive from the Federal High Court in Abuja. In a statement issued on August 12, 2026 by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, the Commission explained that it acted to comply with the judgment delivered on July 22, 2026 in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/344/2026 between the SDP and Ajala against INEC.
The court had compelled the Commission to recognise the SDP ticket.
“Consequently, the ballot papers for the election, scheduled to hold on Saturday, 15th August 2026, are being reproduced to reflect this addition, bringing to 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 statement said.
INEC said the reprinted ballots are expected to arrive in Osun on Thursday, August 13, 2026. From there, they will be dispatched the same day to INEC offices in the 30 local government areas, in line with the Commission’s standard distribution timetable ahead of election day.
The late court-ordered addition means election officials, party agents and voters will now see 15 party logos and names instead of 14 on both the ballot papers and the result sheets. For the SDP, it restores the party’s place in the race after a legal tussle that challenged its earlier exclusion.
For some observers, the timing is tight with ballots arriving barely 48 hours to the poll. However, INEC said the logistics chain remains on track and that distribution to LGAs will proceed immediately to avoid disruption.
Osun’s governorship contest has drawn intense interest, and the return of the SDP widens the field. Analysts note that ballot reprinting at this stage usually involves recalling already printed materials, resetting the layout, and ensuring that serial numbers, security features and result sheets are aligned with the new 15-party format to prevent confusion at polling units.
The Commission reiterated its commitment to conducting the election as scheduled on Saturday, August 15, 2026, and assured stakeholders that the adjustments will not affect the credibility of the process.