On Tuesday, Kenny Okolugbo, a political strategist and member of the Delta State APC Campaign Council, publicly denounced remarks made by former Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo‑Agege that implied riggers should be killed, stating such language could encourage violent actions and insisting that electoral offences be addressed by the police and other law‑enforcement agencies.
What did Okolugbo say?
Okolugbo described Omo‑Agege’s comment as "quite unfortunate" and reiterated that no voter wants an election to be rigged. He emphasized that rigging constitutes a criminal offence and that anyone caught should be handed over to the appropriate authorities rather than being subjected to mob justice.
Why could the remarks be dangerous?
He warned that urging "rig and die" effectively incites the electorate to take the law into their own hands, a scenario that could quickly spiral out of control. "When you say rig and die, you are encouraging people to act outside the legal system," he explained, adding that such statements make it impossible to distinguish between supporters who can be managed and those who cannot.
Quote from the strategist
"Most of us that are politicians know how difficult it is to control some of the people who are loyal to us. Some of them are very over‑zealous, and when they hear their leader make such statements, it emboldens them," Okolugbo told ARISE News.
Potential consequences
He cautioned that even a single unfounded allegation of rigging at a polling unit could trigger a lynching, turning a political grievance into a fatal incident. The strategist stressed that while no one condones electoral fraud, calls for extrajudicial punishment only fuel a climate of fear and violence.
Broader context
The former deputy speaker’s comments come at a time when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is under pressure to ensure free and fair elections across the country. Okolugbo’s remarks highlight the delicate balance political leaders must maintain between condemning malpractice and avoiding rhetoric that could destabilise the electoral process.
In summary, Okolugbo urged all political actors to refrain from incendiary language, reminding them that the rule of law, not vigilantism, should guide the handling of any alleged election irregularities.