Nigeria, April 4 -- The demand for religious balancing in the election and appointment of the leadership of the 9th National Assembly by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has been criticised by its Muslim counterpart- the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA).

The Muslim group in a statement signed by its Deputy Secretary-General, Salisu Shehu, described CAN's call as indecorous, ill-advised, ill-motivated and only aimed at polarising the country.

It said that it doubted the sincerity of the religious body and suggested that based on its recent interventions in the nation's political affairs, CAN should rather metamorphose into a political party.

A statement earlier issued by CAN through Adebayo Oladeji, Special...