The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it printed millions of ballot papers and result sheets within 36 hours following a judgment that ordered the inclusion of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate in Saturday’s Osun State governorship election.
The INEC National Commissioner supervising Osun State, Kunle Ajayi, disclosed this in an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, as the commission gave assurances of its readiness for the poll.
Ajayi said the late court decision forced the commission to adjust its preparations at short notice but insisted that the development did not disrupt its logistical arrangements.
“In spite of the fact that the thing came late, we were able to print all ballot papers, millions, within 36 hours, because hours had no meaning to us anymore. Days had no meaning to us anymore.
“We were working day and night as if it were day. So, we were able to complete the printing, and we moved all the materials, all the sensitive materials, ballots, everything, to the Central Bank yesterday, late last night,” Ajayi said.
“In spite of the late judgment, which came very late after we had printed all the sensitive materials and moved to the appropriate quarters, the judgment just came on a Friday, and we had only Saturday, Sunday and Monday,” he said.
According to him, INEC first obtained a certified copy of the judgment before taking action to ensure that the order was valid and issued by a competent court.
INEC had earlier announced that it would include the SDP candidate, Francis Ajala, and his running mate, Faseke Oladipo, on the ballot in compliance with a Federal High Court judgment delivered on July 22, 2026. The inclusion increased the number of political parties contesting the election from 14 to 15.
Ajayi said the commission subsequently distributed the sensitive materials to all 30 local government areas in the state.
“Because of that judgment, we moved from Abuja to the Central Bank very late. But in spite of that, we were able to distribute to all the 30 local governments without missing any and without any issue on the road. We finished about 5 am this morning to distribute the materials to the local government,” he said.
Ajayi also dismissed reports that the ballot papers for the election were printed outside Nigeria, saying the commission had deliberately engaged reputable local printers since the 2023 elections.