Osun Election: INEC Blames Late Distribution Of Materials On Court-Ordered Inclusion Of SDP Candidate | Sahara Reporters

The electoral body said the delay was caused by the last-minute reprint of non-sensitive materials that had already been prepared and deployed weeks earlier.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has blamed the delayed distribution of election materials for Saturday’s Osun State governorship election on a court order directing the inclusion of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate on the ballot.

The electoral body said the delay was caused by the last-minute reprint of non-sensitive materials that had already been prepared and deployed weeks earlier.

Osun State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Oluwatoyin Babalola, said the commission has commenced the distribution of the reprinted materials and is working to ensure they reach their designated locations before voting begins.

The delay had triggered concerns among voters and political stakeholders over whether election materials would arrive at polling units on time, amid fears of possible logistical difficulties across the state.

Babalola, however, assured that INEC was prepared for the election and that the late distribution would not affect the commission’s ability to conduct the poll.

Speaking to journalists, the REC explained that most of the election preparations had been completed weeks earlier, with non-sensitive materials already deployed to Registration Areas (RAs) and polling units.

She said, “We have done everything for signing this election. Non-sensitive materials were deployed almost four weeks ago.

“They are already batched to RAs and polling units. And then this is just the last aspect. And it is not the making of INEC.”

According to Babalola, “it is based on the court order that INEC should include the SDP on the ballot.”

“And the commission has complied by going back to reprint all these materials,” she said.

“All non-sensitive materials were printed within three days. And they arrived this evening. And we are sharing to local governments. And very soon they will take off.”

The court order requiring INEC to include the SDP on the ballot consequently created the need for the commission to reproduce election materials, according to the REC.

Babalola also dismissed concerns that the additional printing and distribution exercise overwhelmed INEC’s logistics arrangements, insisting that the commission was accustomed to handling last-minute developments during elections.

“This is what we do. This is what we do. We are used to it,” she said.

“It can happen at any time. And we are up to the task. You can see we are all here. And we are up to the task.”

The REC’s comments came as preparations intensified across Osun ahead of the governorship election, with INEC expected to deploy sensitive materials to the various local government areas and subsequently to polling units.

On Wednesday, INEC said it has added the SDP candidate, Dr. Francis Olugbenga Ajala, and his running mate, Faseke Babajimi Oladipo, to the ballot for the Osun State governorship election scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2026.

INEC disclosed this in a press release signed by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee.

According to the electoral commission, the inclusion of the SDP candidate was made in compliance with the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, delivered on July 22, 2026.

The case, filed as Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/344/2026, was between the SDP and Dr. Francis Olugbenga Ajala on one hand, and the Independent National Electoral Commission on the other.

INEC said the court had ordered the commission to “forthwith recognise, accept, upload, process and publish the name and particulars of Dr. Francis Olugbenga Ajala as the candidate of the Social Democratic Party.”

Following the judgment, the commission said it had commenced the reproduction of the ballot papers for the election to reflect the inclusion of Ajala and his running mate.

The development brings the number of political parties contesting the August 15 governorship election to 15.