The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has added the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, Dr. Francis Olugbenga Ajala, and his running mate, Faseke Babajimi Oladipo, to the ballot for Saturday’s Osun State governorship election.

The Osun governorship election is scheduled to hold on Saturday, August 15, 2026.

INEC, in a statement issued on Wednesday by the National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, said the decision was in compliance with a judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, delivered on July 22, 2026.

The case, filed under Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/344/2026, was between the SDP and Ajala on one side 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 candidate for the election.

INEC said it had consequently commenced the reproduction of the ballot papers to accommodate the SDP candidate.

The Commission added that the result sheets for the election were also being reproduced to reflect the inclusion.

With the addition of the SDP candidate, INEC said the number of political parties participating in the August 15 governorship election had increased to 15.

“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 electron.

“The result sheets for the election are also being reproduced alongside the ballot papers to reflect the inclusion of the SDP candidate”, Haruna said.

The electoral body disclosed that the reproduced ballot papers would arrive in Osun State on Thursday, August 13, and would be distributed the same day to Local Government Area offices across the state in line with its standard distribution procedure.

The Commission assured political parties, candidates and the electorate of its commitment to conducting a free, fair and credible governorship election in Osun State.