OSOGBO, Nigeria — The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has added the Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate, Dr. Francis Olugbenga Ajala, and his running mate, Faseke Babajimi Oladipo, to the ballot for the Osun State governorship election scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2026.

The last-minute inclusion has increased the number of political parties listed by INEC for the election from 14 to 15, forcing the electoral body to reproduce ballot papers and result sheets just days before voters head to the polls.

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

According to the commission, the court ordered INEC to recognise, accept, process and publish Ajala’s name and particulars as the SDP candidate for the governorship election.

In compliance with the ruling, INEC confirmed that Ajala and Oladipo had been formally placed on the ballot.

The commission said the development also required it to reproduce the ballot papers as well as the election result sheets to reflect the SDP’s inclusion.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, said the newly reproduced election materials were expected in Osun State on Thursday, August 13, for onward movement to INEC offices across the state’s local government areas.

Sensitive materials for the election are also being distributed across the 30 local government areas as preparations intensify for Saturday’s poll

Ajala’s addition to the ballot followed weeks of legal and political disagreement surrounding the SDP’s governorship candidacy.

The controversy was linked to an internal leadership dispute within the party and competing claims surrounding the validity of its nomination process.

The SDP faction backing Ajala maintained that he was the party’s duly nominated governorship candidate and approached the court after his name was not included in INEC’s earlier list.

The Federal High Court subsequently directed the electoral commission to recognise Ajala, leading to INEC’s decision to modify the ballot shortly before the election.

Despite the late inclusion, Ajala has expressed optimism about the SDP’s chances in the election, although he acknowledged that the party had lost considerable campaign time while pursuing its case in court.