Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has declared Tuesday, July 28, 2026, a work-free day for all public servants in the state to enable them collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
The directive, announced on Monday, applies to civil servants across ministries, departments and agencies, as well as local government workers and employees of state-owned tertiary institutions.
The state government said the decision was aimed at encouraging greater participation in the electoral process by giving eligible voters enough time to collect the voter cards required to participate in the forthcoming election.
The announcement was contained in a statement issued by the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, who said the directive was conveyed through a circular signed by the Head of Service, Elder Ayanleye Aina.
According to the statement, the work-free day is intended to allow public servants fulfil their civic responsibility ahead of the governorship poll and future elections in the state.
The government stressed that possession of a Permanent Voter Card remains a legal requirement for every eligible voter who intends to cast a ballot during elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“The work-free day is to enable public servants perform their civic obligations ahead of the forthcoming governorship election and future elections in the state,” the statement said.
While approving the holiday for public workers, the state government clarified that personnel providing essential services would not completely suspend their duties.
It advised workers in critical sectors, particularly healthcare and security, to make internal arrangements that would ensure uninterrupted service delivery while still allowing eligible staff members to collect their PVCs.
According to the government, hospitals, security agencies and other emergency service providers must continue operating in the interest of public safety and welfare.
The statement noted that workers on essential duties, including medical and security personnel, should coordinate among themselves to ensure that their absence does not negatively affect members of the public.
Governor Adeleke also appealed to public servants and residents working in the informal sector who have yet to collect their PVCs to take advantage of the opportunity before the deadline.
He described the forthcoming governorship election as an important moment in the state’s democratic journey and urged every registered voter to participate.
“I encourage all registered voters to reach all the collection points without delay,” the governor said.
“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 stressed that democratic participation begins with collecting a valid PVC, urging residents not to wait until the last minute before visiting designated collection centres.
The declaration comes as political activities intensify across Osun State ahead of the August 15 governorship election, which is expected to be keenly contested by candidates from several political parties.
Adeleke, who is seeking a second term in office, is contesting the election on the platform of the Accord Party.
He will face strong competition from the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Oyebamiji, and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Najeem Salaam.
The Independent National Electoral Commission has approved 14 political parties to participate in the election.
However, two major political parties, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP), are not fielding candidates in the poll.
The election is expected to attract national attention because Osun remains one of Nigeria’s politically significant states, with the outcome likely to shape political alignments ahead of the 2027 general election.
INEC has repeatedly urged registered voters across the state to collect their PVCs before the commission closes the collection exercise, warning that uncollected cards will not be available on election day.
The electoral commission has also assured residents that it is making adequate preparations to conduct a peaceful, free and credible election.
In recent weeks, political parties have intensified campaigns across the state, while security agencies have also increased consultations aimed at ensuring a peaceful electoral process.
Civil society organisations and election observers have continued to encourage voter education and peaceful participation, urging political parties and their supporters to conduct their campaigns without violence.
The declaration of a work-free day is expected to improve voter participation by giving thousands of civil servants sufficient time to visit INEC collection centres without disrupting their official duties.
Over the years, low PVC collection rates have remained a concern in many parts of Nigeria, with INEC repeatedly warning that many registered voters fail to collect their cards despite completing the registration process.
For many eligible voters, the PVC remains the only recognised document that grants access to vote on election day through the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).
With less than three weeks to the Osun governorship election, political parties are expected to intensify campaigns, while electoral officials continue preparations for the poll.