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Former Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege, has threatened to kill anyone caught rigging the 2027 general election, warning that electoral manipulation would be met with violent resistance.
The former senator, who is seeking to reclaim the Delta Central senatorial seat under the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), made the threat while addressing a political gathering in his constituency, TheCable reports.
“I want to make the news again. Anybody who rigs the election on that day, we will kill him! If you don’t value your life, come and rig the election,” Omo-Agege said.
He accused those who manipulate elections of undermining the future of Nigerians and their children, insisting that he and his supporters would not tolerate electoral fraud in the forthcoming polls.
“They’re rigging your future. They’re rigging the future of your children. We’re waiting for them. Let them try it. It is rig and die. We’re going to give them aura for aura. There’s no court this time. We’re going to fight,” he added.
The remarks signal a hardening of rhetoric ahead of the 2027 elections, raising concerns about the potential for political violence as parties and aspirants begin positioning themselves for the polls.
Omo-Agege declared his intention to contest the Delta Central senatorial seat in May, following his departure from the All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to TheCable, the former deputy senate president resigned from the APC in a letter dated May 22, addressed to the chairman of the party’s Orogun Ward 2 in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.
In a subsequent statement, Omo-Agege said his decision followed weeks of consultations with political associates, supporters and stakeholders across the country.
His move to the NDC marks a fresh phase in his political career as he prepares for another contest for the senatorial seat.
Omo-Agege’s threat comes amid renewed efforts by the Federal Government to ensure a peaceful and credible electoral process in 2027.
About a week before the reported remarks, President Bola Tinubu directed security agencies to ensure that the forthcoming general election was free, fair and credible.
The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, conveyed the president’s directive while briefing State House correspondents after a National Security Council meeting presided over by Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Musa said the president had instructed security agencies to provide a safe environment for Nigerians to exercise their democratic rights, regardless of political affiliation.
“You can see all heads of security agencies are here. We had an intensive discussion, and Mr President made it very clear he wants a free, fair and credible election,” the minister said.
He added that security agencies had been directed to ensure that citizens could vote without fear or intimidation.
Musa also stressed that security personnel would remain neutral and provide all political parties with equal opportunities to participate in the elections.
“For all other political parties, they should understand that the security forces are going to be neutral. We are going to ensure that we give everybody the opportunity to go and serve, so they have nothing to worry about, nothing to be afraid of, and nobody is going to intimidate them for whatever reasons,” he said.
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