INEC Condemns ‘Rig and Die’ Slogan, Vows To Punish Election Offenders

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned politicians to stop using the “rig and die” slogan ahead of the 2027 general elections, saying the statement is dangerous and can push Nigeria into election violence.

The Commission said any official who tampers with the election process, including temporary staff recruited for election duties, will be punished according to the law.

The Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna gave the warning during a media forum held in Enugu for journalists and media managers from the South-East, South-South and South-West.

Haruna said politicians must stop making statements that put ordinary Nigerians at risk, explaining that many of the people who work during elections – presiding officers, ad hoc staff, party agents and observers – are ordinary citizens who should not be threatened because of politics.

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According to him, anyone who is not satisfied with an election result should follow the legal process by reporting to INEC, security agencies or the court, instead of encouraging violence.

He also spoke about the role of the media in building trust in elections. Haruna said Nigerians will only trust the process if journalists report accurately, fairly and professionally.

He urged journalists to avoid spreading fake results, unverified videos and false political stories that can confuse the public and cause unrest.

Journalists Told To Understand Electoral Act, BVAS And IReV

During the forum, media trainer Osaretin Imahheyierobo advised journalists to study the Electoral Act 2026, INEC’s guidelines for election coverage and the Nigerian Broadcasting Code before reporting elections.

He said many reporters covering elections do not fully understand the laws and rules guiding their work, and that gap often leads to wrong reports.

Imahheyierobo also asked journalists to learn how INEC’s technology works, especially the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), so they can report voting and result collation correctly.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Enugu State Council, Obinna Ogbuka, praised INEC for organising the forum. However, he said the training came late and many journalists would have benefited more if it had started earlier before the election season began.