The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has added the Social Democratic Party, SDP, to the ballot for the Osun State governorship election scheduled for Saturday, August 15, bringing the number of participating political parties to 15.
The development follows a Federal High Court judgement in Abuja ordering INEC to recognize, accept, upload, process and publish the details of Mr Francis Olugbenga and his running mate, Faseke Babajimi, as the SDP’s candidates for the election.
INEC announced the decision on Wednesday, three days before the election, saying it was acting in compliance with the court’s judgement delivered on July 22.
The judgement was issued in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/344/2026 filed by the SDP and Mr Olugbenga against INEC.
In a statement signed by Mohammed Haruna, National Commissioner and Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee, the commission said it was reproducing the ballot papers to reflect the inclusion of the SDP candidate.
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“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 the total number of political parties contesting the election,” INEC said.
The commission said the newly reproduced ballot papers would arrive in Osun State on Thursday, August 13, before being distributed to its Local Government Area offices across the state.
“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,” the statement added.
INEC assured political parties, candidates and the public of its commitment to conducting a free, fair and credible election in the state.
The August 15 election features 15 political parties, with incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party seeking re-election.
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