INEC Updates Osun Governorship Candidates’ List Following Court Order

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has updated the list of candidates for Saturday’s Osun State governorship election, following a Federal High Court judgment ordering the commission to recognise the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, Dr Francis Olugbenga Ajala.

INEC, in a statement issued on Wednesday by the National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, said Ajala and his running mate, Faseke Babajimi Oladipo, had now been added to the ballot.

The commission said the decision followed the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, delivered on July 22, 2026, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/344/2026, involving the SDP and Ajala against INEC.

According to the electoral body, the court directed it to “forthwith recognise, accept, upload, process and publish” Ajala’s name and particulars as the SDP governorship candidate.

Consequently, INEC said it had commenced the reproduction of the ballot papers and result sheets for the August 15 election to accommodate the SDP candidate.

The inclusion of the SDP has increased the number of political parties participating in the Osun governorship election to 15.

INEC disclosed that the reproduced ballot papers are expected to arrive in Osun State on Thursday, August 13, and would be distributed the same day to the commission’s Local Government Area offices across the state.

The development comes just threw days before voters in the state are scheduled to elect a governor, with INEC assuring political parties, candidates and the electorate of its commitment to conducting a free, fair and credible poll.

INEC said the adjustment to the electoral materials was being carried out in compliance with the court order and in accordance with its established procedures for election preparation.

“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 assures political parties, candidates, and the general public of its commitment to conducting a free, fair, and credible election in Osun State,” the statement added.

In July, the SDP National Chairman, Prof. Sadiq Umar Abubakar Gombe, welcomed the Federal High Court judgment, describing it as a reaffirmation of the legitimacy of the party’s governorship candidate in Osun State.

Speaking in Abuja, Gombe said the court’s decision had affirmed that the party’s candidate emerged from a valid governorship primary conducted by the SDP and monitored by INEC.

He said the judgment had effectively resolved attempts to challenge the party’s internal processes and created clarity over its candidate for the August 15 governorship election.

“The Federal High Court judgment delivered today has settled the matter. Our governorship candidate remains the duly elected candidate of the Social Democratic Party, having emerged from a primary election properly conducted by the party and monitored by INEC,” Gombe said.

The SDP chairman also accused some individuals of attempting to mislead the judiciary and sow confusion within the party through protests and social media campaigns.

He maintained that the court’s ruling had provided judicial backing for Ajala’s candidacy and reaffirmed the party’s position ahead of the Osun governorship election.