Court throws away Seventh Day Adventist Church suit against Saturday elections

A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed the suit by the Seventh Day Adventist Church seeking to stop the conduct of elections in Nigeria on Saturdays. 

Justice James Omotosho on Wednesday held that the suit was frivolous, vexatious, irritating and baseless.

Justice Omotoso further overruled the church’s contention that the fundamental rights if its member were being infringed by such elections.

The judge held that the govermment can curtail the fundamental rights of the church and the citizens by policy claimed by the church were not at large and can be curtailed by policy.

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Besides, he added that the Seventh Day Adventist Church is in the minority in Nigeria and cannot impose its doctrine on the majority of other religious denominations in the country.

The suit was brought by a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Ugochukwu Uchenwa, challenging the holding of elections in Nigeria on Saturdays, which he contends violates their members’ fundamental rights to freedom of worship as citizens and denies them participation in the elections.

Uchenwa, who joined the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF)as respondents, asked the court to declare the fixing of elections and examinations on Saturdays as unconstitutional, maintaining that the day is considered “Sabbath day of the Lord” and observed as holy day by their members.

Others joined as respondents in the suit are the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Minister of Internal Affairs, Joint Admission and Matriculation Examinations (JAMB); National Examination Council (NECO); West African Examination Council (WAEC); and the National Business and Technical Examination Board (NABTEB).