The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit challenging the scheduling of elections on Saturdays by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The court deemed the suit frivolous, which was initiated by Mr. Ugochukwu Uchenwa, an elder of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Mr. Uchenwa argued that holding elections and examinations on Saturdays infringes upon the religious rights of the church’s members.
The suit, perceived as contentious by the court, aimed to alter the conventional practice of scheduling elections and examinations, citing concerns that such activities on Saturdays compromised the freedom of worship and constitutional rights of Seventh-day Adventists.
Multiple defendants were named in the suit, including the President of Nigeria, the Attorney-General of the Federation, INEC, and various educational examination bodies such as JAMB, NECO, WAEC, and the National Business and Technical Examination Board.
Presiding over the case, Justice James Omotosho found that Mr. Uchenwa failed to provide sufficient grounds for the court to grant his requested reliefs. Justice Omotosho emphasized the plaintiff’s failure to establish a reasonable cause of action, ultimately rendering the lawsuit baseless.
The suit argued that scheduling elections on Saturdays, a day observed as the Sabbath by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, directly violated members’ rights to freedom of worship, conscience, and the free practice of their faith. Additionally, Mr. Uchenwa contended that this scheduling hindered church members’ ability to participate in governance and access education freely.
The remedies sought included a reconsideration of election and examination dates to accommodate the religious observances of Seventh-day Adventists or, alternatively, providing members with alternative days to exercise their civic and educational rights.
However, the court dismissed these requests, maintaining the status quo of holding elections and public examinations on Saturdays.
