Court Dismisses Seventh Day Adventist Church’s Suit Against Saturday Elections and Exams in Nigeria

The Federal High Court in Abuja, presided by Justice James Kolawole Omotoso, dismissed a suit filed by a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church of Nigeria, Ugochukwu Uchenwa, seeking to prohibit the conduct of elections and examinations on Saturdays in Nigeria.

The suit, filed against the Federal Government, was dismissed on the grounds that it was frivolous, vexatious, irritating, and baseless.

The Seventh Day Adventist Church had claimed that Saturday is their Sabbath day of worship and that the fundamental rights of its members are being brutally breached by the conduct of elections and examinations on Saturdays.

The church sought an order from the Court to prohibit the Federal Government of Nigeria from further conducting elections and examinations on the Sabbath day so as to stop the disruption of their rights to worship.

However, Justice Omotoso ruled that the fundamental rights being claimed by the church were not at large and cannot be curtailed by government policy.

The Judge also emphasized 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 court’s decision highlights the importance of respecting the rights of all religious denominations while also recognizing the need for practical governance and the rights of the majority.

It remains to be seen if the Seventh Day Adventist Church will appeal the ruling or seek alternative means to address their concerns about the disruption of their Sabbath day worship.