The Edo State Government on Saturday declared September 27 and 28 as public holidays to enable the electorate participate in the September 28 governorship election.
Governor Adams Oshiomhole announced the reprieve at a grand reception organised by the organised labour union for him.
He said the holidays would enable workers travel to their places of registration and participate in the voting exercise on Wednesday.
On the support given to him by labour, the governor expressed delight in the constructive criticisms offered by the union in the last eight years, adding that they helped in shaping his policies.
“In spite of their contestation sometimes, both parties have always found a meeting point to bridge their differences,’’ he said.
He urged members of the union to extend same support to the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate by voting enmasse for him on Sept 28.
According to him, the APC governorship candidate, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has undergone tutelage in governance under the outgoing administration and therefore fit to rule.
He said there was the need to reciprocate the union gesture, adding that to do this, the union should ensure that Obaseki was returned as governor.
He also said the State Civil Service had been upgraded, adding that the migration to pension services was now smooth.
“ Retirees can now begin to access their pensions immediately they retired and there is no need for tranches again,’’ he said.
The governor, however, advised the APC governorship candidate not to abandon the workers if elected.
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has debunked an allegation that the party was planning to rig the election.
A statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, on Saturday in Abuja said PDP had no such plan.
The party also said it would resist any attempt by the APC to rig the election.
“We have read the comments attributed to the Deputy Director General, Obaseki Campaign Organization, John Osakue, to the effect that our Party is working to rig the forthcoming Edo State Gubernatorial Election.
“This statement is false, misleading and totally in keeping with the All Progressives Congress (APC) principle of propaganda over no substance,” he said.
He said that it was on record that the PDP had since raised the alarm over the plans of the APC to manipulate the electoral process in Edo State.
“John Osakue’s comment is, therefore, a smokescreen designed to deceive Nigerians and was made to distract people from plans perfected by APC to rig the Election.
“The objective is to falsely curry sympathy from the Nigerian public while orchestrating and perpetrating their nefarious activities.
“We urge the Obaseki Campaign Organisation as well as the APC to stop peddling the falsehood,” he said.
Adeyeye said that the people of Edo had decided to vote PDP on Wednesday.
“We urge our teeming members, supporters and the good people of Edo to shun the propaganda of the APC.
“We urge them to also come out en masse to vote for our candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, on September 28,” he said.
