Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has declared Tuesday, July 28, 2026, a work-free day for all public servants to enable them collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) ahead of the state’s governorship election.

The directive was conveyed in a circular issued by the Head of Service, Elder Ayanleye Aina, and applies to all categories of public servants, including civil servants, local government workers and employees of state-owned tertiary institutions.

The announcement was contained in a statement issued on Monday by the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed.

According to the state government, the work-free day is intended to allow public servants to fulfil their civic responsibility by collecting their PVCs in preparation for the forthcoming governorship election and future electoral exercises in the state.

However, workers providing essential services, including healthcare personnel and security operatives, have been advised to make adequate arrangements to ensure uninterrupted service delivery during the period.

Governor Adeleke also appealed to all registered voters, particularly public servants and those in the informal sector who have yet to collect their PVCs, to do so without delay.

“I encourage all registered voters to visit the designated PVC collection centres without delay. Your vote is your power. Your Permanent Voter Card is your licence to the ballot paper and, by extension, to the ballot box,” the governor said.

The Osun governorship election is scheduled for August 15, 2026, with Adeleke seeking a second term in office. The poll is expected to feature candidates from 14 political parties cleared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Among the leading contenders are the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Najeem Salaam. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party are not fielding candidates in the election.