INEC explains the Osun election delay, saying late ballot papers and result sheets caused by the addition of the SDP candidate were responsible
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has explained the Osun election delay, saying the late arrival of newly printed ballot papers and result sheets from Abuja slowed the distribution of sensitive materials ahead of Saturday’s governorship poll.
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INEC National Commissioner in charge of the Osun election, Prof. Kunle Ajayi, gave the explanation as the commission began distributing the materials to the state’s 30 Local Government Areas on Friday, August 14, 2026.
The exercise is taking place at the Central Bank of Nigeria office in Osogbo, the state capital, with the commission working to ensure the materials reach their designated locations before voting begins.
According to INEC, the delay was linked to the addition of Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate Francis Ajala and his running mate, Faseke Oladipo, to the ballot.
Their inclusion increased the number of political parties contesting the election from 14 to 15.
INEC said the development followed a Federal High Court judgment in Abuja on July 22, 2026, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/344/2026, filed by the SDP and Ajala against the electoral commission.
The court ordered INEC to “forthwith recognise, accept, upload, process and publish” Ajala’s name and particulars as the SDP governorship candidate.
As a result, the commission had to reproduce both the ballot papers and result sheets to reflect the additional candidate.
“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,” INEC said.
“The result sheets for the election are also being reproduced alongside the ballot papers to reflect the inclusion of the SDP candidate.”
Mohammed Kudu Haruna, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, signed the statement explaining the development on August 12.
INEC had previously announced that the reproduced materials would arrive in Osun on Thursday, August 13, after which they would be transported to the various Local Government Area offices under the commission’s established distribution procedures.
Ajayi said the commission began distributing the materials immediately after their arrival, underscoring the urgency of getting them to the relevant locations before election day.
The commission is expected to complete the deployment ahead of Saturday’s vote, when voters across Osun’s 30 Local Government Areas will elect a governor.
Fifteen candidates are now participating in the election, including incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, All Progressives Congress candidate Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji and African Democratic Congress candidate Najeem Salaam.
The last-minute changes to the ballot have added another layer of logistical pressure to an election already attracting heightened political and security attention across the state.
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For INEC, completing the distribution of the sensitive materials on time remains crucial to ensuring that Saturday’s election proceeds as scheduled.
