Plateau State Government has been commended for fixing its Local Government elections for Wednesday instead of Saturday, the day of worship for members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
The commendation was made by Leadership of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Plateau-Bauchi Conference as contained in a statement signed by the Conference President, Pastor Joshua Ezra Mallum, and made available to our Correspondent in Bauchi.
The Church stated that the Government, through the State Independent Electoral Commission has shown its commitment to inclusivity and respect for all religious faiths and communities.
ALSO READ: VIDEO: How BurnaBoy came with his team to pick up my son — Speed Darlington’s mum
The President in the Plateau-Bauchi Conference stared that fixing the election on a day that did not coincide with its day of worship will give all its eligible voting members the opportunity to come out and perform their civic responsibility.
According to Mallum, “the Church views the decision not as a mere administrative adjustment but as a recognition of the rights and beliefs of Seventh-day Adventist members within Plateau state.”
He stressed that, “Elections in Nigeria are generally held on Saturdays but the LG Elections for Plateau State has been scheduled to hold on Wednesday the 9th of October, 2024.”
Mallum added that “the decision reflects a commitment to inclusivity and respect for all the diverse faith communities that make up the fabric of Plateau State.”
“By allowing the elections to be held on Wednesday, the Government has offered an opportunity for all citizens, especially members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, to actively participate in the democratic process and exercise their rights to vote without compromising their religious observance”, he stated.
The Church therefore called on its members to utilise the opportunity by performing their franchise stating, “We encourage all members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Plateau State to seize this opportunity and come out en-mass to exercise their civic duty. It is a biblical charge found in Jeremiah 29:7.”
It also called on the people of Plateau State to come out and vote for their candidates as “It is imperative that we join hands in shaping the future of our local communities by participating in the elections”.
and then