By Polycarp Auta
The Plateau-Bauchi Conference of Seventh-Day Adventist Church has commended Plateau Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) for not fixing the forthcoming local government elections for Sabbath day.
President of the conference, Pastor Joshua Mallum, gave the commendation at a news conference on Tuesday in Jos.
Mallum said that members of the church were disenfranchised in the past because elections were largely fixed for Saturdays.
”We want to express our sincere appreciation to the government of Plateau and management of PLASIEC for scheduling the local government elections
during the week and not on Sabbath, which falls on Saturday, the biblical day of worship.
”This decision is a mere administrative adjustment, but a recognition of the rights and belief of Sabbath keepers within the state.
”It reflects a commitment to inclusivity and respect for the diverse faiths that make up the voting population in the state.
”By fixing the election for Wednesday, government has made all citizens, especially our members, to actively participate in the democratic process,” he said.
The president explained that with this move, the church had instructed its leaders in the state to mobilise members to actively participate in the exercise.
Mallum also called on the Federal Government to consider conducting general elections on other days aside Saturdays.
”We have our members scattered all over the country; we have more than 50,000 members in the Northern part of the country.
”So, we have been denied the rights to our civic responsibilities in the past and we call on the federal government to look into this genuine concern,” he said.
The president urged residents of the state to be peaceful and law abiding during the council polls.(NAN)
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