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 taking place at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) office in Osogbo, the state capital.
INEC National Commissioner overseeing the Osun election, Kunle Ajayi, said the distribution was delayed by the late arrival of newly printed ballot papers and other materials from Abuja.
He explained that the materials had to be reproduced following the recent inclusion of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, Francis Ajala, on the ballot.
Ajayi said the Commission commenced the distribution as soon as the materials arrived to ensure they reached their designated locations ahead of the election.
INEC had on Wednesday added Ajala and his running mate, Faseke Oladipo, to the ballot, bringing the number of political parties contesting the August 15 election to 15.
The decision followed a Federal High Court judgment in Abuja delivered on July 22, 2026, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/344/2026, involving the SDP and Ajala against INEC.
The Commission said the court ordered it to recognise, accept, upload, process and publish Ajala’s name and particulars as the SDP governorship candidate.
INEC subsequently reproduced the ballot papers and result sheets to reflect the inclusion of the SDP candidate.
In a statement signed on August 12 by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, the Commission said the reproduced materials were expected to arrive in Osun on Thursday, August 13.
The materials were to be moved the same day to INEC offices across the 30 local government areas, in line with the Commission’s standard distribution procedure ahead of the poll.
