OSUN GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION: INEC REPRINTS BALLOTS FOR SDP CANDIDATE

To accommodate the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the upcoming Osun governorship election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reportedly commenced the reprinting of ballot papers and result sheets

“The development is the result of a prolonged legal battle over the SDP’s participation and the identity of its candidate in the forthcoming August 15, 2026 governorship election.”

Although the electoral commission had earlier released the final list of candidates cleared to participate in the Osun governorship poll, subsequent developments in the court proceedings concerning the SDP’s candidacy created the need to adjust the election materials.”

It will be recalled that SDP had earlier approached the Court of Appeal in Abuja seeking a stay of execution of a Federal High Court judgment that recognised Olaitan Salawu-Adeniyi Mustapha as the party’s governorship candidate.

In line with the recent development, the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) is said to be making adjustments to the sensitive electoral materials to ensure that the candidate recognised by the relevant judicial process is properly reflected on the ballot.

The reprinting reportedly affects both ballot papers and result sheets, which are among the critical materials required for the conduct and collation of election results.

The development is significant because the Osun governorship election is expected to be closely contested, with the commission having cleared multiple political parties for the poll.