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Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has declared Friday, August 14, a work-free day for public servants across the state to enable them to travel and participate in Saturday’s governorship election.
The governor also urged workers, their relatives and friends to vote massively and “defend their votes” as he seeks a second term in office.
The announcement was contained in a statement signed on Wednesday by the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed.
According to the statement, the decision followed a circular issued by the Head of Service, Ayanleye Aina, directing that Friday be observed as a work-free day to enable workers to travel where necessary and prepare for the election.
“All categories of workers are covered in work free day declaration except those on emergency and essential duties,” the statement said.
The declaration comes two days before the Osun governorship election, which the Independent National Electoral Commission has scheduled for Saturday, August 15.
Adeleke, who is seeking re-election, used the opportunity to urge state workers to mobilise support for his administration at the polls.
The governor tasked workers to vote and ensure that their ballots count, while calling on them to mobilise informal workers, artisans and professional groups.
He also appealed to workers to support what he described as the achievements of his administration over the past three and a half years.
“We must defend the gains of the last three and half years plus,” he said.
Adeleke described his administration as “a workers friendly government” that had delivered across sectors, adding that workers should reject any attempt to return the state to what he called its “dark days.”
He said his government had maintained a “mutually beneficial relationship” with workers during his first term.
The work-free declaration is not the first such measure by Adeleke ahead of the election.
In July, the state government also declared a work-free day for public servants to facilitate the collection of Permanent Voter Cards ahead of the poll.
Saturday’s election is a major test for Adeleke as he seeks to retain the governorship of Osun.
The APC’s Bola Oyebamiji and the African Democratic Congress candidate, Najeem Salaam, are among Adeleke’s most prominent challengers.
The contest has been closely watched because of the political stakes surrounding Adeleke’s bid for a second term and the APC’s effort to reclaim the state.
Recent reports have described the election as highly competitive, with political tensions and concerns over possible violence adding to the significance of Saturday’s poll.
Osun Guber Polls: Governor Adeleke Tasks Workers to Vote and Defend their Votes, Declares Friday Work Free
OSOGBO – 12/08/2026 – https://t.co/1YelPm223E
Governor Ademola Adeleke has declared Friday 14th of August as work free, to allow public service workers to participate in…
— Osun State Government (@Osun_State_Gov) August 12, 2026
