The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has excluded the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) from the official list of cleared parties for the Osun State governorship election scheduled for August 8, 2026.
The commission announced on Saturday that only 14 political parties successfully met the stringent administrative requirements to participate in the upcoming off-cycle polls.
The exclusion of the PDP and the Labour Party follows the expiration of the deadline for political parties to upload the personal particulars of their candidates and running mates to the INEC digital portal.
According to a statement issued in Osogbo by Musa Olurode, INEC's State Public Relations Officer, the 14 cleared parties were those that "successfully completed their primaries and uploaded the names and particulars of their candidates, including running mates, within the stipulated deadline."
The commission emphasised that the window for submissions closed at 6 p.m. on February 9, 2026. Olurode further clarified that the names of the successful candidates are being displayed at INEC offices across the 30 Local Government Areas of Osun State for public scrutiny, in accordance with Section 29 of the Electoral Act 2022.
“INEC hereby notifies political parties and the general public that, following the conclusion of political party primaries and the close of the period for uploading the names and particulars of candidates, 14 political parties successfully complied with the Commission's requirements,” Olurode stated.
Mutiu Agboke, the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Osun State, reassured the public of the commission's commitment to transparency. He urged all stakeholders to inspect the published documents and remained firm on the necessity of adhering to the electoral timetable.
The 14 parties currently cleared to contest include Accord, Action Alliance (AA), African Action Congress (AAC), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action Democratic Party (ADP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), All Progressives Congress (APC), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Action Peoples Party (APP), Boot Party (BP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Young Progressive Party (YPP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).