A former Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, has defended his controversial “rig and die” remark ahead of the 2027 general elections, insisting that the statement was directed at electoral manipulators and not voters or security agencies.

 

Omo-Agege, through his Special Adviser on Strategy and Communications, Godwin Anaughe, described the expression as a warning against ballot theft, falsification of election results and other forms of electoral malpractice.

 

In a press statement, the former Delta Central senator accused the Delta State Government, some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state and their media allies of deliberately misrepresenting his remarks as a call for violence.

 

He maintained that the statement was intended to encourage voters to defend their votes and resist attempts to undermine the democratic process in the 2027 elections.

 

## Omo-Agege Says ‘Rig and Die’ Targets Electoral Offenders

 

According to the statement, Omo-Agege’s remark was a declaration against those who allegedly manipulate election results, steal electoral materials or interfere with the counting and collation of votes.

 

The former deputy Senate president argued that voters were not the target of the statement, stressing that the expression was meant to discourage electoral offences and protect the people’s mandate.

 

He also invoked Section 1(2) of the 1999 Constitution, which prohibits the assumption of government power except in accordance with the Constitution, to support his argument that electoral integrity was essential to democratic governance.

 

The statement added that the era of alleged result manipulation, vote-buying, impersonation of security personnel and attempts to bypass the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) must end.

 

Omo-Agege’s camp insisted that any attempt to manipulate the 2027 election would be resisted through lawful and peaceful action by voters at polling units and collation centres.

 

## Tinubu, Buhari’s Past Remarks Cited in Defence

 

To support its position, Omo-Agege’s camp referenced previous statements attributed to President Bola Tinubu and former President Muhammadu Buhari concerning electoral malpractice.

 

The statement recalled that Tinubu, while serving as the APC national leader in 2014, reportedly used the expression “rig and roast” in warning against electoral manipulation in Ekiti and Osun states.

 

It also cited Buhari’s remarks ahead of the 2019 general elections, when the former president warned against ballot-box snatching and directed security agencies to deal firmly with offenders.

 

Omo-Agege’s camp questioned why his own statement had attracted criticism, arguing that similar warnings by prominent political leaders had previously been defended as efforts to protect elections.

 

The comparison formed a central part of the statement’s argument that the reaction to Omo-Agege’s remark amounted to political hypocrisy.

 

However, the circumstances surrounding the different statements and the responses they generated remain distinct, and the comparison does not by itself determine whether the wording of any particular political statement could be interpreted as incitement.

 

## Dafinone’s Past Election Complaints Recalled

 

The statement also criticised Senator Ede Dafinone and members of his political camp over their reaction to Omo-Agege’s remarks.

 

It recalled the October 2013 Delta Central senatorial bye-election conducted to fill the seat left vacant following the death of Senator Pius Ewherido.

 

According to Omo-Agege’s camp, Dafinone, who contested the election on the platform of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP), had complained at the time that voting did not take place as expected and accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of withholding result sheets.

 

The statement argued that Dafinone’s alleged past objections to the conduct of an election contradicted the position his camp was now taking over Omo-Agege’s warning against electoral malpractice.

 

It further accused the senator’s associates of attempting to discredit Omo-Agege by revisiting the controversy surrounding the Senate mace incident in 2018.

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## Omo-Agege Revisits 2018 Senate Mace Controversy

 

Addressing the incident in which the Senate mace was taken from the chamber in April 2018, the statement maintained that Omo-Agege’s presence in the Senate was connected to his opposition to what he considered an unlawful suspension.

 

His camp said he had obtained a Federal High Court judgment nullifying his suspension and argued that he was seeking to resume his legislative duties as an elected senator.

 

The statement denied that Omo-Agege went to the Senate to steal the mace and portrayed his actions as a defence of the Constitution, judicial authority and legislative independence.

 

It also cited his subsequent election as Deputy President of the Senate as evidence of the political support he enjoyed at the time.

 

The defence comes as political actors continue to revisit past controversies while positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 elections.

 

## Omo-Agege Repeats Allegations Over 2023 Delta Governorship Election

 

Omo-Agege’s camp also revisited the 2023 Delta State governorship election, alleging that he was denied victory through electoral manipulation.

 

The statement claimed that Omo-Agege won the election but was allegedly rigged out by former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and the eventual winner, Sheriff Oborevwori, with the support of influential political figures.

 

It specifically alleged irregularities in parts of Delta North Senatorial District, including Ika North, Ika South, Oshimili North and Oshimili South local government areas.

 

The statement said Omo-Agege pursued legal action after the election but alleged that the judicial process failed to deliver justice.

 

These claims represent the position of Omo-Agege’s camp and were not independently established by the statement.

 

The former senator further accused Oborevwori, who is now a member of the APC, of preparing to use similar tactics in 2027. He also criticised the state government’s spending, alleging that more than ₦5 trillion had been expended without commensurate results.

 

The statement did not provide a breakdown of the alleged expenditure or supporting documentation for the accusation.

 

## Calls on INEC, Security Agencies to Remain Impartial

 

As preparations for the 2027 elections approach, Omo-Agege’s camp called on INEC and security agencies to remain impartial and ensure that votes are accurately counted and results honestly collated.

 

It urged voters across Delta State, including those in Orogun, Uvwie, Udu, Ughelli, Sapele, Warri, Agbor and Asaba, to remain vigilant at polling units.

 

The statement said voters should ensure that election results reflect the ballots cast and that any attempt to manipulate the process is challenged through lawful means.

 

It also warned politicians against relying on electoral malpractice to secure victory, insisting that the outcome of the 2027 elections must be determined by voters rather than fabricated results.

 

## Omo-Agege Insists 2027 Election Must Reflect Voters’ Will

 

Concluding the statement, Omo-Agege’s camp maintained that the former senator would not withdraw his position on defending the electoral process.

 

It said the objective was to prevent electoral manipulation and ensure that the mandate of the people was respected.

 

The controversy over the “rig and die” expression highlights the competing political narratives emerging ahead of the 2027 elections in Delta State, where rival camps are already trading allegations over electoral credibility and political conduct.

 

Whether the phrase will be understood as a forceful warning against electoral malpractice or criticised as inflammatory political rhetoric is likely to remain a subject of debate as the election approaches.