Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has declared Tuesday, July 28, 2026, as a work-free day for public employees.
The governor has directed that the work-free day be used to collect Permanent Voter Cards in preparation for the next governorship election.
Elder Ayanleye Aina, the Head of Service, issued a circular conveying the mandate, which applies to all types of public servants, including local government workers and tertiary institution staff.
All of this was outlined in a Monday statement signed by the governor’s spokeswoman, Olawale Rasheed.
The Osun state government said the decision was aimed at “enabling public servants to perform their civic obligations ahead of the forthcoming governorship election and future elections in the state.”
However, “workers on essential duties, including medical and security personnel, were advised to make necessary arrangements among themselves to ensure that their absence did not negatively affect members of the public,” the release noted.
Adeleke also advised public officials and informal workers who had not acquired their PVCs to do so as soon as possible, emphasising the significance of the next election for the state.
“I encourage all registered voters to reach all the collection points without delay.
“Your vote is your power.” Your voter’s card is your licence to the ballot paper and, by extension, to the ballot box,” the governor said.
The 2026 governorship election in the state is scheduled for August 15, 2026, with incumbent governor Adeleke of the Accord Party seeking re-election in a race that includes All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Bola Oyebamiji and African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate Najeem Salaam among the leading contenders.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cleared 14 political parties to contest in the election, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party are not fielding candidates in the poll.
