The Kogi State Government has declared Friday, October 16, 2026, a work-free day across the state ahead of the Local Government Council elections scheduled for Saturday, October 17.
The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Folashade Arike Ayoade, announced the development in an official statement issued in Lokoja following the approval of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo.
Ayoade stated that the public holiday is intended to enable civil servants, private-sector workers, and other eligible voters to travel to their respective wards and polling units to participate in the local council polls.
She urged registered voters to turn out en masse to exercise their civic franchise while appealing for orderliness and peaceful conduct before, during, and after the elections.
In a related development, the Kogi State Police Command announced enhanced operational deployments to ensure security across the 21 local government areas during the electoral exercise.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Saliu Oyiza Afusat, disclosed that police personnel and sister security agencies have been deployed to key locations across the state.
She added that the Commissioner of Police, CP Naziru Bello Kankarofi, held a strategic conference with Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers (DPOs), and Tactical Commanders to reinforce strict compliance with election security guidelines, professional neutrality, and prompt response to security incidents.
