June 12: Emphasis Should Shift To Making Democracy Deliver Results To The People, Says Omo-Agege

Deputy President of the 9th Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, has said the celebration of June 12 and the sacrifices made by late Chief M. K. O. Abiola and other pro-democracy activists should be emphasising the deliverables from democratic governance.

In his message to mark this year’s Democracy Day, Omo-Agege who is the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) flag bearer in the 2027 election for Delta Central Senatorial district said it is no longer enough to just celebrate democracy.

“The issue isn’t democracy itself; the problem is that we have practiced democracy without delivering results we desperately need. What’s truly missing is the value of every vote. Abiola didn’t sacrifice his life just so we could have elections every four years. He fought for a Nigeria where the vote of a farmer in Udu, Delta State, could genuinely change his life”, Senator Omo-Agege said.

“Thanks to June 12, a young man in Warri can run for councilor, and a woman in Bayelsa can voice her opinions on the radio without fear of repercussions. That kind of freedom is invaluable”, he stated, adding that “We have democracy, but where are the benefits? People are struggling with hunger, the roads are in disrepair, and insecurity is rampant. The issue isn’t democracy itself; the problem is that we have practiced democracy without delivering the results we desperately need.

“June 12 was straightforward. It was all about transparency. Everyone witnessed the counting right at the polling unit. My late father, my uncle, my neighbor, and the party agents – we all saw the same results. That’s why people were willing to stand up for it, even risking their lives”, the former Deputy Senate President said.
According to him, Democracy Day should be focusing on not making democracy and voting mere symbols.

“Right now, many Nigerians feel like their votes are just a formality. You cast your vote, the government comes in, and then they vanish for four years. The NDC aims to change that. For us, democracy should be measured by one simple question: Is life better for the average Nigerian than it was four years ago? If the answer is yes, then June 12 was meaningful. If not, then we have a lot of work ahead of us”, he said.

He acknowledged that since 1993, INEC has made strides to improve the electoral process and boost its credibility. “The introduction of BVAS has significantly cut down on ballot box snatching, and voter registration has become much simpler. These are genuine reforms.

“The key takeaway from June 12 for INEC is clear: trust is established at the polling unit. If you safeguard that environment, everything else will fall into place.
“For 2027, I will recommend that INEC should also adopt open counting practices. There’s no need to rush the movement of materials from the polling units. Count the votes, announce the results, display Form EC8A on the wall, and let the media capture it. That single step can eliminate about 70% of public doubt.

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“They should focus on training and protecting their staff. The NYSC members who serve as ad-hoc staff are the frontline soldiers of our elections. They need proper training and security. When they feel safe and confident, they won’t cut corners or let anyone do so”, Omo-Agege who is also the Obarisi of Urhoboland stated.
He said that despite the misgivings on the level of application of direct transmission of results from polling units, “June 12 showed us that trust is built right at the polling unit, not in some hidden room. If INEC ensures the vote is protected from the start, Nigerians will trust the results.

“So, if INEC cannot do real-time uploads for any reason, they can still ensure credibility by strictly adhering to the Electoral Act 2026. Section 27 is straightforward: count, announce, display, provide copies, and then proceed to collation. If this is done across the over 176,000 polling units, Nigerians will sleep well on election night.”

To the youth, he urged them to celebrate June 12 by ensuring that they register and obtain the Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC), saying “the PVC is your power. Don’t sell it; use it wisely.”