The Cross River State government of Governor Bassey Otu has declared Thursday and Friday of this week as public holidays.
Naija News understands that the period of inactivity was declared to facilitate inclusive voter participation in the upcoming local government elections in the state.
The holiday was confirmed in a statement issued by the governor’s chief spokesperson, Nsa Gil, on Wednesday.
The statement said the holiday is aimed at enabling voters to travel from Calabar to various destinations in the state.
A two-day holiday will be in place before the election, scheduled for Saturday, November 2, and is intended to give residents enough time to prepare for the election and engage in the electoral process.
In a statement provided to the media on Wednesday, Gill emphasized the importance of civic engagement and encouraged all voters to seize this opportunity to make their voices heard.
“The decision to declare these days as public holidays recognizes the need for citizens to exercise their right to vote without any hindrance,” Gill said.
He called on residents to actively participate in the electoral process and contribute to shaping the governance of local councils.
Meanwhile, the Ondo State chapter of the Zenith Labor Party (ZLP) has denied rumors that it is planning to merge with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state and confirmed its participation in the upcoming November 16 governorship election.
Cornelius Akintoye, the state chairman of the party, made this disclosure in a telephone conversation with Punch on Tuesday.
Mr. Akintoye stressed that the ZLP remains one of the 16 political parties contesting the governorship election and is working aggressively to ensure victory.
While Akintoye acknowledged that some individuals affiliated with the ZLP may have chosen to join the PDP, he said these moves reflected the party’s official position of committing to an independent campaign and electoral strategy. He clarified that it was not a thing.
