Ugochukwwu Iwuchukwu
A Port Harcourt High Court has adjourned to December 18th for motion into a fundamental Human Rights case involving members of Seventh Day Adventist Church against Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, Attorney General of the Federation, and the federal government.
The members of the church, Chief Emeka Anyabelem , Elder Asonye Onwudebe, Felix Minikwu and Chinedu Omesurum are in court to compel INEC and federal government to change the day and date of the 2019 general elections, which is interfering in their day of worship.
INEC had fixed the Presidential and National Assembly elections on Saturday 16th Day of February 2019 while Saturday 2nd of March was scheduled for the Governorship and State Assembly elections.
The four members of the Seventh Day Adventist who are the applicant to this suit said fixing elections on those days is an infringement on their fundamental rights of freedom of Religion as guaranteed in the Nigerian constitution.
The applicants also ask the court to give an injunction restraining INEC which is the 3rd respondent in the case or with the instrumentality of the Federal Government and Attorney General of the Federation from conduction the 2019 general elections as scheduled or any other election on a Saturday which is the worship day of the four members of Seventh Day Adventist (applicants) and other fellow members across the country.
They applicants also demanded a fifty million naira general damages for the infringement on their Fundamental Rights of Freedom of Religion.
The counsel to the applicants Ahamefule Owurre said the court will adopt the motions on the adjourned date (18th December).
He said that his clients were in court to enforce their fundamental human rights which are breached by the Federal Government, Attorney General of the Federation and the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC.
