The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced the distribution of sensitive electoral materials to the 30 Local Government Areas of Osun State ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.
The distribution is currently taking place at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) office in Osogbo, the state capital.
According to the INEC National Commissioner in charge of the Osun State election, Kunle Ajayi, the delay is due to the late arrival of newly printed ballot papers and other materials from Abuja following the recent inclusion of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) on the ballot for the election.
Ajayi, a professor, said that the Commission commenced the distribution to ensure that all materials reached their designated locations ahead of the poll.
INEC had on Wednesday added the SDP candidate, Francis Ajala, and his running mate, Faseke Oladipo, to the ballot for the governorship election.
This raised to 15 the total number of political parties contesting the election, which will be held on Saturday.
INEC had explained that the decision was taken in compliance with the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, delivered on July 22, 2026, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/344/2026 between the SDP and Ajala on one hand, and INEC on the other.
It said that the court had ordered the Commission to forthwith recognise, accept, upload, process and publish the name and particulars of Ajala as the candidate of the SDP.
“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,” it said in a statement signed by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, on August 12, 2026.
The Commission had also said the reproduced ballot papers would arrive in Osun State on Thursday, August 13, 2026, and would, same day, be moved to local government area offices across the state, in line with its standard distribution procedure ahead of the election.
