The Independent National Electoral Commission has commenced the distribution of sensitive electoral materials to the 30 local government areas of Osun State ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.

INEC National Commissioner supervising the Osun election, Kunle Ajayi, disclosed this on Friday, saying the distribution was being carried out from the Central Bank of Nigeria office in Osogbo, the state capital.

Ajayi attributed the delay in the distribution to the late arrival of newly printed ballot papers and other electoral materials from Abuja following the inclusion of the Social Democratic Party on the ballot.

He said the commission had commenced the distribution to ensure that all sensitive materials reached their designated locations before the election.

The development followed INEC’s decision on Wednesday to add the SDP candidate, Francis Ajala, and his running mate, Faseke Oladipo, to the ballot.

The inclusion of the SDP candidates increased the number of political parties contesting the August 15 election to 15.

INEC said the ballot papers had to be reproduced to reflect the addition of the SDP, while result sheets were also being reprinted.

“Consequently, the ballot papers for the election, scheduled to hold on Saturday, 15th August 2026, are being reproduced to reflect this addition, bringing to 15 the total number of political parties contesting the election,” the commission said.

The commission added that the revised result sheets would also reflect the inclusion of the SDP candidate.

The distribution of sensitive materials is part of INEC’s final preparations for the governorship election across the state.