…Urges Workers to Defend Their Votes
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has declared Friday, August 14, 2026, a work-free day for public service workers across the state to enable them to prepare for and participate in Saturday’s governorship election.
The announcement was contained in a circular issued by the Head of Service, Elder Ayanleye Aina, with the state government explaining that the arrangement would give workers who need to travel enough time to reach their respective polling areas before voting begins.
The circular stated that the work-free declaration applies to all categories of workers, except personnel engaged in emergency and essential duties.
The measure comes three days before the Saturday, August 15, 2026 governorship election, as political parties and candidates intensify their final mobilisation efforts across the state.
Beyond the work-free arrangement, Governor Adeleke has urged Osun workers, their relatives and friends to turn out in large numbers and protect their votes during the election.
In a pre-election message to workers, Adeleke commended the state’s labour leadership and public servants for what he described as their steadfast support for his administration.
The governor also praised the relationship between his administration and the organised labour community, describing it as mutually beneficial.
“The time for action has come,” Adeleke said, urging workers to mobilise informal workers, artisans and professional bodies ahead of Saturday’s poll.
He called on them to remain firm in defending their constitutional rights to vote and be voted for, while also urging them to protect what he described as the achievements recorded by his administration over the past three and a half years.
“We must defend the gains of the last three and half years plus,” the governor said, describing his administration as a “workers friendly government” that has delivered across different sectors.
Adeleke further urged workers and other supporters not to allow what he described as a return to the “dark days”, as the state heads into the final days before the election.
The work-free-day declaration is expected to particularly benefit public servants whose registered polling units are outside their places of work, allowing them to travel ahead of Saturday’s voting.
However, workers involved in essential and emergency services are expected to remain at their duty posts despite the declaration.
The announcement comes amid heightened political activity and increased security preparations across Osun as authorities and political parties make final arrangements for the governorship election.
With Friday set aside for travel and election preparations, attention now shifts to Saturday, August 15, when voters across the state will head to the polls to choose the governor who will lead Osun for the next term.
