‘Rig And Die’: Omo-Agege Threatens Those Who Attempt To Manipulate 2027 Elections
By Passman Akpos
DELTA STATE — Former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, has issued a controversial warning against alleged plans to rig the 2027 general elections, declaring that anyone caught manipulating election results would face fierce resistance.
Omo-Agege, who is the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate for Delta Central Senatorial District, made the remarks during a campaign, using the expression “rig and die” to emphasise his opposition to electoral manipulation.
“I want to make news again: Anybody who rig election that day, we will kill him. Rig and die. If you don’t value your life, come and rig election,” he said.
The statement has drawn attention to the increasingly heated rhetoric surrounding Nigeria’s preparations for the 2027 general elections, particularly concerns about electoral credibility, political violence and the protection of voters’ mandates.
OMO-AGEGE SAYS ELECTORAL FRAUD THREATENS NIGERIANS’ FUTURE
Explaining his position, Omo-Agege argued that election rigging goes beyond denying candidates victory, insisting that it also undermines the future of voters and their children.
“They are rigging your future, they are rigging the future of your children. We are waiting for them. Let them try. Rig and die. We are going to do it aura for aura. We are just looking at them,” he said.
His remarks framed electoral manipulation as a threat to the wider population, suggesting that the consequences of compromised elections extend beyond political parties and individual candidates.
However, his use of the phrase “we will kill him” has raised an important question about the boundary between forceful opposition to electoral fraud and language that could be interpreted as encouraging political violence.
While protecting the integrity of elections is essential to democracy, threats of violence can also heighten tensions and create risks for voters, electoral officials, party agents and other participants in the electoral process.
SENATOR CRITICISES ADVICE TO SEEK REDRESS IN COURT
Omo-Agege also criticised the response often given to candidates who challenge alleged electoral manipulation, particularly advice that aggrieved candidates should seek redress through the courts.
His position reflects a longstanding debate in Nigerian politics over whether the country’s electoral and judicial institutions provide sufficiently effective remedies for alleged electoral malpractice.
Nevertheless, legal challenges remain an established avenue for disputing election results, while lawful reporting, evidence gathering and peaceful civic action are important ways to challenge suspected irregularities.
The effectiveness of these mechanisms depends on transparent electoral administration, credible investigations and timely decisions based on the available evidence.
WHAT HIS STATEMENT MEANS FOR THE 2027 ELECTIONS
As political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections, Omo-Agege’s remarks highlight the need for political leaders to communicate their opposition to electoral fraud without encouraging violence.
Nigeria’s democratic stability depends on elections in which voters can freely express their preferences, electoral officials can perform their duties without intimidation, and disputes are addressed through lawful and credible processes.
Political parties and their candidates have a legitimate interest in protecting their votes. However, that responsibility does not authorise threats or attacks against people suspected of electoral misconduct.
Any allegation of rigging should be investigated through credible evidence, while those found to have committed electoral offences should face the penalties prescribed by law.
Similarly, anyone who threatens, attacks or kills another person in the name of defending an election could face criminal liability.
THE QUESTIONS NIGERIANS SHOULD ASK
Omo-Agege’s statement raises several questions as the country approaches another general election:
- What practical measures will political parties adopt to prevent electoral fraud without resorting to violence?
- How can the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) strengthen public confidence in the credibility and transparency of elections?
- What protections will be available to voters, electoral officials and party agents who report suspected irregularities?
- How can election petitions and other legal remedies be made more accessible and effective for aggrieved candidates?
- Will political leaders across party lines publicly commit to peaceful elections and reject violence, regardless of the outcome?
These questions go beyond Omo-Agege and his political ambitions. They concern the safety of voters, the credibility of Nigeria’s democratic institutions and the country’s ability to conduct peaceful elections.
TARAKIRIVOICE PERSPECTIVE: DEFEND THE VOTE, NOT VIOLENCE
The right to vote is fundamental to democracy, and deliberate electoral manipulation must not be tolerated. Nigerians deserve elections in which their votes count and their choices are respected.
However, defending the ballot should not become a justification for bloodshed. Political leaders have a responsibility to mobilise citizens around lawful resistance to electoral fraud, credible monitoring, transparent result collation and accountability for electoral offences.
Omo-Agege’s warning places the issue of election rigging firmly in the public conversation. The critical question now is how political actors can translate their opposition to electoral malpractice into concrete commitments to peaceful, credible and transparent elections.
As Nigeria moves towards 2027, the message should be clear: protect the vote, expose electoral fraud, prosecute offenders through due process and keep violence out of the democratic process.
