Nigeria’s electoral authority has ordered a last-minute reprinting of ballot papers for the upcoming governorship election in Osun State following a federal court ruling.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced on Wednesday that Francis Ajala, candidate for the Social Democratic Party (SDP), and his running mate, Faseke Oladipo, have been added to the ballot.
The decision comes after a Federal High Court ruling in Abuja on 22 July ordered INEC to recognise and publish Mr. Ajala’s candidacy. As a result, both ballot papers and official election result sheets are being reproduced to include the SDP candidate, bringing the total number of political parties contesting the election to 15.
According to a statement signed by INEC National Commissioner Mohammed Haruna, the updated voting materials are scheduled to arrive in Osun State on Thursday, 13 August, where they will be distributed to local electoral offices ahead of the poll on Saturday, 15 August.
INEC maintained that it remains committed to conducting a “free, fair, and credible election” in the south-western state.
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