The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced the distribution of sensitive electoral materials to the 30 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Osun State ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.

The distribution is being carried out at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) office in Osogbo, the state capital.

The INEC National Commissioner in charge of the Osun governorship election, Prof. Kunle Ajayi, attributed the delay in the distribution to the late arrival of newly printed ballot papers and other sensitive materials from Abuja.

The materials had to be reproduced following the recent inclusion of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and its candidate, Francis Ajala, on the ballot for the election.

Ajayi said the Commission commenced the distribution to ensure that all electoral materials are delivered to their designated locations ahead of Saturday’s poll.

INEC had on Wednesday added Ajala and his running mate, Faseke Oladipo, to the ballot, bringing the number of political parties contesting the election to 15.

The decision followed a Federal High Court judgment delivered in Abuja on July 22, 2026, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/344/2026, filed by the SDP and Ajala against INEC.

The Commission said the court ordered it to recognise, accept, upload, process and publish the name and particulars of Ajala as the SDP candidate.

In a statement issued on August 12 by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, National Commissioner and Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee, the electoral body said the ballot papers and result sheets were being reproduced to reflect the inclusion of the SDP 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,” the Commission said.

INEC added that the result sheets were also being reproduced alongside the ballot papers to reflect the latest change.

The Commission had earlier announced that the reproduced ballot papers would arrive in Osun State on Thursday, August 13, and would subsequently be moved to the various LGA offices in line with its standard distribution procedure.

The Osun governorship election is scheduled to take place on Saturday, August 15, 2026, with voters across the state expected to elect the next governor.

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