Delay in INEC registration won't hinder SDP's triumph, Osun governorship hopeful claims

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The Social Democratic Party candidate in Saturday’s governorship election in Osun State, Olugbenga Ajala, has expressed optimism that the party will emerge victorious despite being listed on the ballot just three days before the poll.

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Ajala disclosed this during a telephone interview with The PUNCH on Wednesday, shortly after the Independent National Electoral Commission listed the party among those fielding candidates in the election.

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Although Ajala acknowledged that the party had limited time to canvass for votes, he said the SDP could still emerge victorious in the poll.

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Asked what he had been doing while waiting for INEC’s listing, Ajala said, “We were in court throughout before we got judgments.

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“In the next 48 hours, there is very little we can do because it is like a 100-meter race. Some of the contestants have reached 75 meters out of the 100 meters.

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“We are now coming out to the starting point. You know, it will be an unfair competition. We will do our best. But let us see what the result will be before we can say decisively which step we will take.

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“I am very optimistic about victory. In fact, we are joyous.”

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The PUNCH reports that INEC added the Social Democratic Party governorship candidate, Dr Francis Ajala, and his running mate, Faseke Oladipo, to the ballot for the Osun State governorship election.

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The election is scheduled to hold on Saturday, August 15, 2026.

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INEC said the decision followed a judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, delivered on July 22, 2026, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/344/2026, involving the SDP, Ajala and the electoral commission.

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According to the commission, the court ordered it to “forthwith recognise, accept, upload, process and publish” the name and particulars of Ajala as the SDP candidate for the election.

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In a statement issued on Wednesday by the National Commissioner and Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, the commission said the ballot papers were being reproduced to reflect the court-ordered inclusion.

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

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INEC also said the result sheets for the election were being reproduced alongside the ballot papers to reflect the inclusion.

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