Two days before Saturday’s Osun State governorship election, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has commenced the reprinting of ballot papers and result sheets following a court order directing the inclusion of the Social Democratic Party candidate, Dr Francis Olugbenga Ajala, in the election.

INEC, in a statement issued by the National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, said Ajala and his running mate, Faseke Babajimi Oladipo, had been added to the ballot.

The development means 15 political parties will now participate in the August 15 governorship election.

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

The court directed INEC to recognise, accept, upload, process and publish Ajala’s name and particulars as the SDP candidate for the election.

In compliance with the judgment, the commission said it had begun reproducing the ballot papers and result sheets to accommodate the SDP candidate.

INEC said the new sensitive materials would arrive in Osun State on Thursday, August 13, before being distributed to local government area offices in accordance with its established procedures.

The development comes as the commission faces additional logistical pressure in the final hours of preparations for Saturday’s election.

INEC, however, assured political parties, candidates and voters of its commitment to conducting a free, fair and credible election, urging all stakeholders to remain focused on the electoral process.

Fadahunsi Denies Inciting Violence

Meanwhile, Senator Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi has denied allegations that he incited violence ahead of the election, saying a viral video circulating on social media was edited to misrepresent his comments.

Fadahunsi, who represents Osun East Senatorial District, said he only urged voters to “kill” the Accord Party with their votes and insisted that he had never encouraged violence.

The police had earlier invited the senator over the alleged inciting remarks.

Speaking at a press conference in Osogbo on Wednesday after honouring the police invitation, Fadahunsi accused Governor Ademola Adeleke of allegedly sponsoring political violence in his senatorial district ahead of the election.

Adeleke had called for Fadahunsi’s arrest over the alleged remarks against supporters of the Accord Party.

The senator alleged that 30 APC members had been killed within the past month, claiming the incidents were intended to intimidate opposition supporters and discourage them from voting.

“Ademola Adeleke created terrorism from Ede into Osun East, the stronghold of the APC, to destabilise us so that people will not go out en masse to cast their votes,” he alleged.

Fadahunsi also alleged that four people were killed and 16 others injured by gunshots during a crisis over control of local government administration in Ijesaland.

He urged residents of Osun East to participate in the election and expressed confidence that the APC candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, popularly known as AMBO, would win.

Amnesty International Demands Accountability

Amnesty International, however, called for Fadahunsi to be held accountable over what it described as remarks instructing supporters to kill members of the Accord Party.

In a statement posted on its X handle, the organisation accused the senator of making remarks capable of inciting violence ahead of Saturday’s election.

Amnesty International said Nigerian authorities had an obligation to prohibit advocacy of hatred that amounted to incitement to hostility, discrimination or violence.

It urged authorities to urgently condemn statements advocating violence, whether made physically, online or through other platforms.

“Senator Fadahunsi must be held accountable,” the organisation said.

CISLAC Raises Concern Over Electoral Violence

The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, CISLAC, has also raised concerns over the growing threat of electoral violence, political intimidation and vote-buying ahead of the election.

In a statement by its Executive Director, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, CISLAC said independent monitoring, media reports and ongoing assessments indicated a worrying pattern of violence and intimidation across the state.

The organisation said reported incidents included killings, shootings, clashes, attacks on political gatherings, destruction of property and other forms of intimidation.

It expressed particular concern over the reported killing of 14-year-old Ezekiel Olapade in Ilobu, Irepodun Local Government Area, who was allegedly hit by a stray bullet during a clash.

CISLAC also cited the reported killing of Kolade Eluyera in Irewole Local Government Area, the shooting of a political office holder in Osogbo and the killing of a political youth leader in Esa-Oke.

While noting that the circumstances surrounding some of the incidents remained subject to investigation, the organisation said the reported loss of lives demonstrated the urgent need for stakeholders to prioritise peace and protect citizens.

CISLAC also expressed concern over the alleged recruitment, financing and deployment of political thugs to intimidate voters, attack opponents and influence the outcome of the election.

It condemned vote-buying and warned that the practice could undermine voters’ ability to make independent political choices.

The organisation further raised concerns over the reported deployment of armed military personnel to the Osun State INEC office.

It said security measures might become necessary where there were credible threats to lives, electoral materials or critical infrastructure, but insisted that any military deployment must have a clear legal and operational basis.

CISLAC urged authorities to explain the purpose and scope of the deployment and ensure that it did not compromise the independence of electoral officials or intimidate voters.

SERAP: No Election Should Be Held in Fear

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, also warned that the Osun election must not be conducted in an atmosphere of fear.

In a statement obtained from its website, the organisation urged INEC and security agencies to act on reported cases of political violence, threats and intimidation ahead of Saturday’s poll.

SERAP said 56 politically related violent incidents and 14 fatalities had been recorded in Osun State over the past 12 months, with 36 incidents reported in May and June alone.

The incidents reportedly included shootings, killings, physical attacks, intimidation, destruction of property and harassment.

“No election should be conducted in an atmosphere of fear. Nigerians have the right to vote for the candidates of their choice,” SERAP said.

The organisation urged INEC and security agencies to strengthen threat assessments and ensure that security arrangements protect voters, candidates, journalists, election observers and civil society groups without political discrimination.

SERAP also cited Section 97 of the Electoral Act 2026, which prohibits threats of force or violence during political campaigns, and called for immediate measures to prevent further violence.

Police Arrest Four Over Firearms

Meanwhile, the Osun State Police Command has arrested four suspects over alleged attempted murder, assault occasioning harm, conspiracy and unlawful possession of prohibited firearms in Modakeke, Ife East Local Government Area.

The command’s spokesperson, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.

Ojelabi said the suspects, comprising two men and two women, were arrested on Sunday at about 2pm following a petition addressed to the Commissioner of Police.

According to him, police operatives recovered two firearms during searches of the suspects’ residences.

“One cut-to-size locally made firearm was recovered from the shop of one of the female suspects while one pump-action firearm was recovered from the residence of the other female suspect,” he said.

The arrests come as security agencies intensify operations across Osun ahead of Saturday’s election amid heightened concerns over political violence and the need to ensure a peaceful and credible poll.