Nigerian lawyer defends right to protect votes
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Daily Post
Human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong says Nigerians can defend their votes against attempts at fraud and electoral violence. In a post on the social network X, he also criticised INEC for its lack of sanctions against violence committed before elections, Daily Post Nigeria reports.
Nigerian human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong warned people considering manipulating election results that they should expect to face the consequences. In a post on the social network X on Monday 9 November 2026, he said Nigerians had the right to defend their votes and electoral rights.
His comments came amid controversy over the expression “rig and die”, which warns against electoral manipulation and violence. Effiong clarified that the phrase was not a call to vote for a candidate at the risk of one's life, but a warning to people likely to rig elections or disrupt the electoral process through acts of violence.
The lawyer also criticised the Independent National Electoral Commission of Nigeria (INEC), accusing it of failing to sufficiently sanction political parties, institutions and individuals involved in pre-election violence. He notably questioned the commission about the number of people or political organisations sanctioned after violence during the 2023 general elections.
Effiong cited disruptions to political rallies and the reported violent attack on activist and politician Omoyele Sowore as examples of incidents to which, he said, the commission had not provided an adequate response. He challenged the difference in treatment between violence committed before elections and that which could occur during the vote.
