Ovie Omo-Agege says his ‘rig and die’ comment targets election riggers, not voters, as political tensions rise ahead of the 2027 Delta elections.

Former Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege, has clarified that his “rig and die” comment was directed at those who manipulate election results, not voters, insisting that the statement was intended as a warning against electoral fraud ahead of the 2027 elections.

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Omo-Agege made the clarification in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Strategy and Communication, Godwin Anaughe.

He said the remark was meant to discourage ballot theft, the falsification of results and other forms of electoral malpractice, arguing that those who attempt to undermine voters’ choices should face resistance.

“Those who cart and run away with electoral materials. It is a patriotic warning to ballot thieves to stay away. It is a total rejection of electoral robbery and manipulation,” the statement said.

Omo-Agege maintained that the phrase represented a rejection of electoral fraud rather than a threat against the electorate.

“It is a declaration that the criminal enterprise of rigging must be exterminated so that democracy will live. It is lawful. It is constitutional,” the statement added.

He cited Section 1(2) of the 1999 Constitution, which prohibits the governance of Nigeria except in accordance with the Constitution, to support his argument that electoral legitimacy must be protected.

According to him, election rigging amounts to an assault on the people’s mandate, while the phrase “rig and die” means that attempts to manipulate election outcomes would be resisted.

“The era of writing results in Government House must end. The era of fake security personnel, fake INEC officials, vote buying and BVAS bypass must end,” the statement said.

Omo-Agege also criticised Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, Senator Ede Dafinone and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), alleging that they could not win a free and fair election.

He accused Oborevwori of failing to demonstrate commensurate results from more than ₦5 trillion in spending, while claiming that Dafinone lacked grassroots support and a legislative record to campaign on.

These allegations were made by Omo-Agege and were not independently established in the statement.

The former deputy Senate president further argued that his remarks were being portrayed unfairly, comparing them with previous statements by President Bola Tinubu and former President Muhammadu Buhari on electoral malpractice.

The statement referenced Tinubu’s reported “rig and roast” warning in 2014 and Buhari’s 2019 directive that ballot-box snatchers should be dealt with severely.

Omo-Agege’s camp argued that criticism of his own wording amounted to inconsistent treatment of similar warnings.

The statement also revisited the 2018 Senate mace incident, which it described as a dispute over Omo-Agege’s suspension from the Senate.

His camp maintained that he returned to the chamber to resume his legislative duties following a court judgment that it said had invalidated the suspension.

It rejected allegations that Omo-Agege had gone to steal the Senate mace, insisting that his actions were intended to defend the Constitution and legislative independence.

Omo-Agege’s statement also alleged that he was denied victory in the 2023 Delta State governorship election through manipulated results, particularly in Ika North, Ika South, Oshimili North and Oshimili South local government areas.

The allegations were presented by his camp and should not be treated as established fact without supporting electoral or judicial records.

He said his decision to challenge the outcome through the courts reflected his commitment to lawful processes, even as he accused the political system of failing to hold those responsible for alleged electoral malpractice accountable.

The former senator concluded that he had not threatened voters, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) or the police.

Instead, he said his warning was directed at people who might seek to intimidate voters, buy votes, impersonate security personnel or manipulate results.