The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has strongly condemned the “rig and die” slogan recently popularized by certain political actors, warning that such violent rhetoric threatens the lives of voters, electoral officials, and observers ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking at a media engagement workshop in Abuja on Monday, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, expressed deep concern over the escalating use of incendiary language across the political landscape.
He cautioned that framing political competition as a life-or-death struggle jeopardizes public safety and undermines the integrity of Nigeria’s democratic process.
Addressing journalists and media executives, Haruna emphasized that while the commission remains committed to protecting vote integrity, inciteful declarations only serve to invite extrajudicial violence against innocent citizens performing their civic duty.
He stressed that the slogan places ad-hoc staff, presiding officers, party agents, and election monitors in direct danger, reiterating that under no circumstances should elections be converted into a call to violence.
The commission drew attention to the statutory framework governing electioneering, reminding political parties and candidates that inflammatory rhetoric carries severe legal consequences under the Electoral Act.
According to Haruna, individuals convicted of threatening violence or using force during campaigns face fines of up to ₦5 million or a 12-month prison sentence, while political parties risk fines starting at ₦10 million for a first offense and ₦2 million for each subsequent violation.
INEC further reaffirmed its exclusive constitutional mandate to accredit voters, collate votes, and declare official results. In closing, the commission appealed to media organisations to exercise restraint by refusing to amplify violent slogans or broadcast unverified election results, urging news outlets to focus instead on voter education, registration awareness, and lawful avenues for dispute resolution.
