A religious group in Nigeria, Seventh Day Adventist Church, has appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to stop using Saturdays for elections in Nigeria and choose another day of the week.

The Church pointed out that the conduct of elections on Saturdays, which he said has become a practice in Nigeria had deprived many of its members from participating in electoral process.

The church recognised Saturday as its Sabbath day [day of worship].

The President of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Western Nigeria Union, Pastor Oyeleke Owolabi, made the appeal while addressing a press conference in Ado Ekiti, the capital of the state.

“We are not feeling comfortable because we are being disenfranchised,” he said.

According to him, the Church had written several letters to the electoral body on the need to shift elections from Saturday but nothing had been done.

“Federal Government can declare a public holiday to conduct any election in the country and the turnout would be impressive.

“As spiritual fathers in the state, we would continue to support any leader that emerges after the elections despite the affiliations,” Pastor Owolabi stated.

On corruption, which the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari believes it could address, Mr Owolabi insisted that pastors had a crucial role to play in the fight against corruption.