Former Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, has defended his “Rig And Die” declaration forward of the 2027 common elections, describing election rigging as treason, a coup towards the individuals and political theft.
Omo-Agege stated he had no apology for the assertion, insisting that it mirrored the sentiments of Nigerians against electoral manipulation.
His place was contained in an announcement by his Special Adviser on Strategy and Communications, Godwin Anaughe, titled: “2027: ‘Rig And Die’: In Defence of Democracy.”
The assertion adopted criticism from the Delta State Government, some All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders within the state and the camp of Senator Ede Dafinone over Omo-Agege’s declaration.
Anaughe described the reactions, together with feedback by the Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information and Chairman of the Delta APC Campaign Council’s Media and Publicity Committee, Charles Aniagwu, as “contrived outrage” and “fake tears.”
He maintained that the declaration was a warning to election riggers and a defence of democracy, not a menace towards voters, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) or the police.
According to him, the warning was directed at those that intimidate voters, purchase votes, use thugs wearing police uniforms, falsify outcomes and manipulate electoral processes.
“‘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 assertion stated.
Anaughe argued that the declaration was lawful and constitutional, citing Section 1(2) of the 1999 Constitution, which prohibits the governance of Nigeria by any individual or group that involves energy in any other case than in accordance with the Constitution.
He additionally alleged that Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, Dafinone and the state APC lacked the help wanted to win a free and honest election, claiming that their solely hope was to govern outcomes. These allegations weren’t independently established within the assertion.
To help his argument, Anaughe cited earlier statements by political leaders, together with President Bola Tinubu, who reportedly warned in April 2014 that election riggers would face “rig and roast” in Ekiti and Osun states, and former President Muhammadu Buhari’s February 2019 directive that ballot-box snatchers must be handled 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 assertion stated.
The aide additionally recalled the October 12, 2013, Delta Central senatorial bye-election to exchange the late Senator Pius Ewherido, alleging that Dafinone, who contested on the platform of the Democratic People’s Party (DPP), had described the election as a sham over the alleged withholding of outcome sheets by INEC.
On references to the Senate mace incident, Anaughe stated Omo-Agege’s presence within the Senate chamber in the course of the incident was to renew his legislative duties after acquiring a Federal High Court judgment nullifying his suspension.
“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 stated, including that Omo-Agege was subsequently elected Deputy President of the Senate.
Anaughe additional claimed that Omo-Agege received the 2023 Delta governorship election via lawful votes however was denied victory via alleged manipulation, significantly in Ika North East, Ika South, Oshimili North and Oshimili South native authorities areas.
He accused Oborevwori of getting ready to repeat the alleged manipulation in 2027, a declare not independently verified within the assertion.
The aide stated Omo-Agege was decided to make sure that votes have been protected at polling items and collation centres reasonably than relying solely on courtroom challenges after elections.
He known as on INEC and safety businesses to stay neutral, defend voters, depend ballots precisely and guarantee sincere collation of outcomes.
The assertion urged voters throughout Delta State to stay vigilant, insisting that the 2027 governorship election must be determined by ballots reasonably than manipulated outcomes.
It added that any try and rig the election can be met with lawful, peaceable and resolute resistance at polling items.
