The Catholic Church has joined the Christian Association of Nigeria in requesting a change in the date.
The Catholic bishops’ conference in a statement said: «In the Christian calendar, April 19 is Holy Saturday, a sacred day of prayer and reflection on the central reality of our faith, namely the passion, death and resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ.»
«Having elections that day poses an unnecessary conflict for Christians between their religious and civic duties,» it said. «For these reasons, the date chosen for the presidential and gubernatorial elections is unacceptable to us.»
The bishops and the Christian Association suggested that Tuesday, April 22, would be a more suitable date.
Muslims account for about half of Nigeria’s more than 100 million people.
