Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo has challenged opposition politicians promoting the “rig and die” slogan to prove claims of electoral manipulation through the number of people they kill during the 2027 elections.
Keyamo, in a post on his X handle on Thursday, said the slogan would make it difficult for opposition parties to blame electoral defeats on rigging if they lost in a free and fair contest.
He was reacting to the controversial warning issued by former Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege, who declared that anyone caught rigging the 2027 elections would be killed.
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Keyamo, who described the slogan as something that should excite all political actors, said those popularising it would have to account for their actions if they later alleged that the elections were manipulated.
He wrote, “The new buzz phrase ‘rig and die’ should excite all of us and we should all embrace it.
“The simple reason is that when those who are now trumpeting it lose woefully in a free and fair context, it will be impossible for them to hide their humiliation at the polls under the guise of ‘rigging’ as they have always done.”
The minister added that opposition politicians would be asked to show how many alleged riggers they killed on election day to substantiate claims of electoral fraud.
“In other words, they need to show how many people they killed to prove the election was rigged!! Chai!!” he wrote.
Omo-Agege, who is seeking election to represent Delta Central Senatorial District under the Nigeria Democratic Congress, introduced the slogan during a campaign event in Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State on October 23.
He had warned that anyone caught manipulating the 2027 election would be killed, adding that there would be no recourse to the courts.
“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,” the former senator said.
He also declared, “There’s no court this time. We’re going to fight.”
Following criticism of the remarks, Omo-Agege, through his media aide, Godwin Anaughe, said the warning was directed at people who manipulate election results and steal electoral materials, not voters or innocent citizens.
He maintained that the slogan was intended to warn against electoral malpractice and encourage the defence of the people's mandate.
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