…..Says 2027 polls must be decided by ballots, not written results
….,Cites Tinubu’s ‘rig and roast’, Buhari’s shoot-at-sight order
Former Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, has defended his controversial ‘rig and die’ declaration ahead of the 2027 general elections, insisting that the expression was directed at electoral offenders and not voters, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) or security agencies.
Omo-Agege, through his Special Adviser on Strategy and Communications, Godwin Anaughe, described the statement as a warning against electoral fraud and an expression of determination to resist attempts to manipulate the outcome of the 2027 elections in Delta State.
In a press statement dated October 27, 2026, the former senator dismissed criticisms of his choice of words by the Delta State Government, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state and supporters of Senator Ede Dafinone, describing their reactions as hypocritical and politically motivated.
He maintained that the phrase was neither a threat to voters nor a call for violence, but a declaration that those who might attempt to falsify election results, steal electoral materials or manipulate the voting process would face resistance.
“‘Rig and die’ is not a threat to voters. Voters don’t rig elections. It is a threat to riggers who falsify election figures and results,” the statement said.
According to Omo-Agege, the declaration represents a rejection of electoral malpractice and a demand that the will of the electorate must prevail in the next general elections.
He argued that the expression was consistent with the principles of constitutional democracy, insisting that the manipulation of election results amounted to an assault on the people’s right to choose their leaders.
The former Deputy Senate President said the era of alleged result manipulation, vote-buying, impersonation of electoral officials and circumvention of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) must end.
He further argued that the determination to protect votes would be demonstrated at polling units and collation centres, where, according to him, voters would insist that results be counted and announced as recorded.
Omo-Agege also launched a political attack on Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, Senator Dafinone and the Delta APC, alleging that they lacked the electoral strength to win a free and fair election.
He accused the state government of mismanaging public funds and alleged that its political opponents were relying on electoral manipulation to retain power in 2027.
The allegations were contained in the statement issued on his behalf and could not be independently verified.
On Dafinone, Omo-Agege alleged that the senator lacked sufficient grassroots support and a legislative record to campaign on, adding that his political camp was uncomfortable with calls for the protection of votes.
The former senator also questioned the reactions of the governor’s allies to his statement, arguing that their interpretation of ‘rig and die’ as a threat of violence was an attempt to misrepresent his position.
To support his argument, Omo-Agege cited previous statements by prominent Nigerian political figures on electoral malpractice.
He referred to the ‘rig and roast’ expression attributed to President Bola Tinubu, then national leader of the APC, during the 2014 governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states.
He also cited the February 2019 directive by former President Muhammadu Buhari concerning ballot-box snatchers, arguing that the reactions to those statements were inconsistent with the criticisms now directed at him.
“If Tinubu’s ‘rig and roast’ was patriotic and Buhari’s shoot-at-sight order was official policy, how does Omo-Agege’s ‘rig and die’ suddenly become anarchy?” the statement queried.
The former senator further recalled the October 12, 2013, Delta Central senatorial bye-election, in which Dafinone reportedly contested on the platform of the Democratic People’s Party (DPP).
According to Omo-Agege’s statement, Dafinone had at the time criticised the conduct of the election, alleging that voting did not take place as expected and accusing INEC of withholding result sheets.
He argued that Dafinone’s alleged position on the conduct of the 2013 election contradicted his current criticism of the ‘rig and die’ declaration.
Omo-Agege also revisited the controversy surrounding the removal of the Senate mace in 2018, which his critics have repeatedly cited in discussions about his political conduct.
He maintained that his presence on the floor of the Senate at the time was intended to challenge what he described as an unconstitutional suspension and to defend the authority of the judiciary.
The former deputy Senate president denied stealing the mace, insisting that he had gone to resume his legislative duties following a court judgment that, according to him, nullified his suspension.
He described the incident as part of his longstanding commitment to defending constitutionalism, legislative independence and democratic institutions.
Turning to the 2023 Delta governorship election, Omo-Agege alleged that he was deprived of victory through electoral manipulation, particularly in parts of Delta North Senatorial District.
He accused former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and his political associates, including Oborevwori, of working against his electoral interest through alleged manipulation of results in Ika North, Ika South, Oshimili North and Oshimili South local government areas.
Omo-Agege said he had pursued legal remedies after the election but claimed that the process failed to deliver the outcome he believed was supported by the ballots cast.
He warned that the 2027 elections would not follow what he described as a similar pattern, insisting that voters and party agents must remain vigilant throughout the voting, counting and collation processes.
The former senator urged INEC and security agencies to remain neutral, protect voters and ensure that election results reflected the actual votes cast.
He specifically called for accurate counting and transparent collation of results, warning against any attempt by political actors to undermine the electoral process.
“Count the votes and announce as counted,” the statement declared.
Omo-Agege also called on supporters across Delta State, from Orogun to Uvwie, Udu to Ughelli, Sapele to Warri, and Agbor to Asaba, to remain vigilant during the elections.
He said the people’s mandate must be protected through what he described as lawful, peaceful and resolute resistance to electoral manipulation.
The statement concluded that the 2027 elections must be determined by the electorate rather than through the alleged writing of results or other forms of electoral malpractice.
“Every attempt to rig will be met with lawful, peaceful and resolute resistance at the polling units. The rigging will be exterminated. The people’s mandate will live,” the statement said.
The controversy over the ‘rig and die’ expression has added to the growing political tension in Delta State as political parties and their leading figures position themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections.
While Omo-Agege insists that the expression is a warning against electoral malpractice, the dispute has raised questions about the language political leaders should use when mobilising supporters to defend the integrity of elections.
