The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has commenced the distribution of sensitive electoral materials ahead of Saturday’s Osun State governorship election.
The exercise covers all 30 local government areas of the state as the commission intensifies preparations for the August 15, 2026 poll.
INEC National Commissioner overseeing the Osun election, Kunle Ajayi, confirmed the development on Friday.
He said the sensitive materials were being distributed from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, facility in Osogbo, the state capital.
Ajayi explained that the distribution schedule was affected by the need to produce fresh ballot papers after the Social Democratic Party, SDP, was added to the election.
According to him, the newly printed materials arrived from Abuja later than expected, prompting INEC to begin the distribution immediately to avoid any disruption to Saturday’s election.
“Every material required for the election is now being moved to its designated location to ensure that preparations remain on course,” Ajayi said.
INEC had earlier amended the ballot following the inclusion of SDP candidate Francis Ajala and his running mate, Faseke Oladipo, in the contest.
Their addition increased the number of political parties participating in the Osun governorship election from 14 to 15.
The commission subsequently ordered the reproduction of ballot papers to accommodate the SDP candidates.
Result sheets are also being reproduced to ensure that the documents used for recording the election results correspond with the updated ballot.
With the sensitive materials now being dispatched across the state, attention has shifted to the final preparations for the Osun governorship poll.
The election is scheduled to hold on Saturday, August 15, with voters expected to choose among 15 political parties contesting the governorship seat.