June 12 Debacle: ATM Calls For Restoration of His Mandate, Says Democracy Thrive When Votes Count
By Dupson Collins, June 12, 2026
In the spirit of celebrating June 12 Democracy Day, Hon Adeola Taoheed Musa (ATM) has called for restoration of his mandate in the just concluded All Progressive Congress (APC) primary saying democracy thrive where people’s vote counts.
ATM as popularly called won the primary election of the Owo Constituency 2 but the anointed candidate of the Governor was declared winner by the leadership of the party at the state level.
He said June 12 suppose be a day for sober reflection and reviewing everything about the country’s democracy, noting that, after 33 years, if the country can’t conduct free and fair election, both at the parties and national levels, the leadership and political stakeholders should be held responsible.
“June 12 will forever remain a reminder of the resilience of Nigerians in the pursuit of justice, freedom, and true democracy. I will not rest on my oars in pursuing the mandate given to me to serve at the State House of Assembly”.
He added that, Nigerian democracy ought to have grown beyond where governors and some political heavyweight would be imposing candidates against the wishes of the people, saying imposition in the just concluded APC primaries has fractured the party’s cohesion ahead of the upcoming elections.
“Nigerians are celebrating Democracy Day today but what happened to June 12 election of MKO Abiola has played out again in the just concluded primary of my party APC where my mandate has been given to anointed candidate of our governor.”.
” It Is high time we learnt the lesson of letting electorates votes to count. June 12 ought to have taught us serious lesson but it saddened that Nigerian leaders are just celebrating Democracy Day without sober reflection”.
In the spirit of celebrating June 12, i plead with the leadership of our party in Ondo State under our amiable governor to restore my mandate. Justice, equity and fairness must be the basis for our democracy. The mandate freely given to me by my people in Owo, Mr Governor, a man of integrity and merit should use his good office to restore my mandate”.
We don’t want our party to lose the forthcoming elections to opposition but to avert this, people’s choice must be given his mandate. APC members in Owo have spoken and they know I am the candidate to beat in any election going by my acceptability across the town.
Meanwhile, ATM congratulated the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, and Nigerians on the occasion of the 2026 Democracy Day celebration.
He emphasized the historic significance of June 12, a date that remains deeply symbolic in Nigeria’s democratic journey, marking the landmark 1993 presidential election widely regarded as a turning point in the nation’s struggle for democratic governance and the mandate of the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola
He acknowledged the sacrifices being made by Nigerians and urged citizens not to lose hope, expressing confidence that the administration’s ongoing reforms and security measures would yield positive results.
The Assembly Hopeful also congratulated Governor Aiyedatiwa for his steadfast leadership and dedication to the development of Ondo State, saying he remains the number one leader of the party in Ondo State.
While tasking the governor to right the wrong associated with the party’s primaries in the state, he urged him to embrace all interests as the father of the state.
ATM further extended his warm greetings to the people of Owo urging them to remain peaceful, united, and committed to the ideals of democracy.
