By: Amos Samuel, Jos
Leadership of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Plateau-Bauchi Conference have commended the Plateau State Government for fixing it’s Local Government elections for Wednesday instead of Saturday, it’s day of worship.
In a press release signed by the Conference President, Pastor Joshua Ezra Mallum, and made available to our Correspondent in Jos, the Church said the Government, through the State Independent Electoral Commission has shown its commitment to inclusivity and respect for all religious faiths and communities.
Seventh-day Adventist Church is a worldwide congregation that believes in the sanctity of the Seventh Day Sabbath (Saturday) as the Biblical day of worship and the President in the Plateau-Bauchi Conference said 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 Pastor 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. 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.
Pastor Mallum said 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 said.
The Church therefore called on its members to utilise the opportunity by performing their franchise saying, “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”.
