Osun Guber: FHC orders INEC to recognise Ajala as SDP candidate

The National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prof. Sodiq Abubakar Gombe, said the party secured a Federal High Court judgment in Abuja on Wednesday directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise Dr Adebayo Ajala as the party’s sole candidate for the Osun State governorship election scheduled for August 8, 2026.

He disclosed this during a briefing at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday.

According to him, the judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja is a victory for the party’s leadership.

He said the opposition party is awaiting the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment to serve on INEC accordingly.

He noted that the distractions confronting the party had been overcome.

Gombe, therefore, urged INEC to respect the court’s verdict and include the name of Dr Ajala as the recognised SDP candidate for the forthcoming Osun State governorship election.

“The SDP recorded a victory at the Federal High Court today by affirming our governorship candidate and recognising him as the duly elected candidate of the Social Democratic Party through a primary duly monitored by the commission and conducted by the party.

“So, even this issue they wanted to pursue through the back door has already been settled. The Federal High Court resolved it with today’s judgment,” he said.

Recall that Salawu-Adeniyi Mustapha Olaitan, a candidate endorsed by the embattled former SDP National Chairman, Shehu Gabam, secured a Federal High Court judgment in Abuja on June 24, 2026, ordering INEC to recognise him as the party’s candidate.