Court Rejects Seventh Day Adventist Church’s Bid To Halt Saturday Elections And Exams

A bid by the Seventh Day Adventist Church of Nigeria to halt the conduct of elections and examinations on Saturdays has been dismissed by Justice James Kolawole Omotoso of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The lawsuit, which sought to prevent the Federal Government from scheduling activities on Saturdays, was deemed by the judge as frivolous, vexatious, irritating, and baseless.

The Seventh Day Adventist Church argued that Saturday is its Sabbath day of worship and that the scheduling of elections and examinations on that day violates the fundamental rights of its members.

In response, the church sought a court order to compel the Federal Government to refrain from conducting such activities on Saturdays, citing the need to preserve their right to worship undisturbed.

However, Justice Omotoso, delivering his judgment on Wednesday, ruled that the fundamental rights asserted by the church were not being infringed upon by government policies.

Additionally, the judge emphasized that the Seventh Day Adventist Church constitutes a minority in Nigeria and cannot impose its religious doctrine on the larger population comprising various religious denominations.