The Sokoto State Government has declared Friday, July 24, 2026, a work-free day for civil servants to enable those yet to register as voters to participate in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise being conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The announcement was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by the Director-General of Media and Publicity at the Government House, Sokoto, Abubakar Bawa.
According to the statement, Governor Ahmed Aliyu approved the work-free day to provide eligible civil servants with sufficient time to register and obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The governor explained that the initiative was specifically aimed at ensuring workers who had not yet registered could complete the process without disrupting their official duties.
Aliyu urged all eligible civil servants who are yet to obtain their PVCs to take advantage of the opportunity, stressing that the voter card remains the only valid means through which citizens can exercise their constitutional right to vote.
He encouraged them to use the work-free day to complete their registration and prepare to participate in future elections.
The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to promoting civic participation, noting that the government is determined to ensure that civil servants are not excluded from exercising their democratic rights.
He also appealed to other eligible residents of the state, particularly first-time voters and those who have yet to register, to make use of the extended Continuous Voter Registration exercise.
Aliyu reminded residents that the extended CVR exercise is scheduled to end on Sunday, July 26, 2026, and urged all qualified persons to register before the deadline to avoid being disenfranchised in the 2027 general elections.