KEY POINTS

• INEC has begun distributing sensitive materials to all 30 LGAs in Osun ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.
• The ballot papers were reprinted after the SDP and its candidate, Francis Ajala, were added following a Federal High Court ruling.
• 15 political parties will contest the August 15 election, with INEC also reproducing result sheets to reflect the updated ballot.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has commenced the distribution of sensitive electoral materials across the 30 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Osun State ahead of the governorship election scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2026.

The distribution is being carried out from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, facility in Osogbo, the state capital, as the electoral commission intensifies preparations for the poll.

INEC National Commissioner overseeing the Osun governorship election, Professor Kunle Ajayi, confirmed that the commission had begun moving the sensitive materials to their designated locations across the state.

The exercise is considered a major stage in the commission’s preparations for the election, with electoral materials expected to be distributed to all 30 LGAs before voting begins.

However, the distribution was delayed by the late arrival of newly printed ballot papers and other sensitive materials from Abuja.

According to INEC, the delay followed the recent inclusion of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and its governorship candidate on the ballot after a court ruling.

SDP Inclusion Leads to Reprinting of Ballot Papers

The decision to reproduce the ballot papers followed a Federal High Court judgment delivered in Abuja on July 22, 2026.

The case, filed by the SDP and its candidate, Francis Ajala, against INEC, resulted in an order directing the electoral commission to recognise, accept, upload, process and publish Ajala’s name and particulars as the party’s candidate for the Osun governorship election.

In compliance with the judgment, INEC added Ajala and his running mate, Faseke Oladipo, to the ballot.

The development increased the number of political parties contesting Saturday’s election from 14 to 15.

The inclusion of the SDP candidate did not only require the reprinting of ballot papers. INEC also reproduced the result sheets for the election to ensure that the documents accurately reflect the updated list of candidates and political parties.

In a statement issued on August 12, INEC said the newly reproduced ballot papers and result sheets would arrive in Osun on Thursday, August 13, before being distributed to the various local government offices.

The commission said the movement of the materials to the LGAs was being conducted in accordance with its established procedures for election preparation and logistics.

With voting scheduled for Saturday, August 15, the commencement of distribution is expected to allow election officials to complete the final logistical arrangements ahead of polling day.

The commission has been working to ensure that sensitive materials are delivered to the appropriate locations and are available for use during the election.

The Osun governorship election is expected to be closely watched, with INEC’s handling of the logistics, the participation of the 15 political parties and the implementation of the court order likely to remain key issues ahead of the poll.