Omo-Agege Defends ‘Rig And Die’ Declaration, Says It Targets Riggers, Not Voters

Former Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, has defended his ‘Rig and Die’ declaration ahead of the 2027 general elections, describing it as a patriotic warning to election riggers and a legitimate defence of democracy.

The defence was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, by his Special Adviser, Strategy and Communications, Godwin Anaughe, titled “2027: ‘Rig and Die’: In Defence of Democracy.”

The statement was in response to the backlash from the Delta State Government, some APC stakeholders in the state and Senator Ede Dafinone’s camp over Omo-Agege’s comment.

Anaughe described the reactions, including comments by the Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information and Chairman, Media and Publicity Committee of Delta APC Campaign Council, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, as “contrived outrage” and “fake tears”.

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

According to the statement, the declaration is a total rejection of electoral robbery and manipulation, and is lawful and constitutional, consistent with the spirit of Section 1(2) of the 1999 Constitution which says Nigeria shall not be governed by anyone who takes power except in accordance with the Constitution.

“To rig an election is treason. It is a coup against the people. It is political robbery. ‘RIG AND DIE’ simply entails every rigging machinery will be defeated and crushed by popular resistance,” Anaughe stated, adding that the era of writing results in Government House, fake security personnel, fake INEC officials, vote buying and BVAS bypass must end.

The statement argued that Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, Senator Dafinone, and the Delta APC cannot win a free and fair election, alleging that Oborevwori has “wasted over 5 trillion naira with nothing commensurate to show” while Dafinone has no grassroots support or legislative record, hence their only hope is to write results.

Anaughe cited historical precedents to justify the language, noting that in April 2014, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, then APC National Leader, warned that it would be “rig and roast” for riggers in Ekiti and Osun, and in February 2019, President Muhammadu Buhari directed that ballot box snatchers should be dealt with ruthlessly.

“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? This is hypocrisy and selective amnesia,” the statement queried.

The statement also recalled that during the October 12, 2013 Delta Central bye-election to replace late Senator Pius Ewherido, Dafinone as DPP candidate had screamed “There was no voting” and called the poll a sham over alleged withholding of result sheets by INEC.

On the repeated reference to the Senate mace incident, Anaughe said Omo-Agege’s presence on the floor of the Senate that day was in defence of democracy after securing a valid Federal High Court judgment nullifying his illegal suspension, which the court declared unconstitutional, unlawful and illegal.

“He did not go to steal a mace and did not steal a mace. He went to resume his seat as a duly elected Senator,” he said, adding that the courts afterwards completely exonerated him and he was subsequently elected Deputy President of the Senate, the highest office ever held by a Deltan.

The statement maintained that just as his action on the Senate floor was in defence of democracy, so also is ‘RIG AND DIE’ in defence of democracy against ballot theft at the polling unit.

Anaughe insisted Omo-Agege did not threaten voters, INEC or the police, but warned the criminal enterprise that intimidates voters, buys votes, brings in thugs dressed in police uniform, and writes results. That enterprise will not survive in Delta in 2027.

He said Omo-Agege has earned the right to be angry, claiming he won the 2023 Delta governorship election on lawful ballots but was rigged out in Delta North, especially in Ika North East, Ika South, Oshimili North and Oshimili South, with state funds and fake results, and that the system protected the riggers.

“Today, Sheriff, wearing APC clothes but PDP at heart, is plotting the same script for 2027 with his 5 trillion naira war chest. That is why Omo-Agege says there will be no court this time. We will defend our votes at the polling units and collation centers. That is lawful. That is constitutional,” the statement said.

The statement called on INEC and security agencies to be impartial, protect voters, count votes accurately and collate honestly, adding that from Orogun to Uvwie, Udu to Ughelli, Sapele to Warri, Agbor to Asaba, every polling unit will be locked down by vigilant voters.

“2027 will be decided by ballots, not by written results. In 2027, the people must decide. Their votes must count. Their mandate must stand. 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,” it added.

It concluded that Omo-Agege has no apology for the statement, saying he spoke the mind of Nigerians.

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