The Chairman of the Delta State Council of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Amb. Comr. Sagboje Odiri Milton, CLN, has challenged former Deputy President of the Senate and NDC Delta Central senatorial candidate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, to bring his own children to the frontline if he believes young people should risk their lives over the 2027 general elections.
Sagboje issued the challenge while condemning a verified video circulating publicly in which Senator Omo-Agege threatened to kill anyone who rigs the 2027 elections and expressed a preference for street confrontation over seeking judicial redress.
In a statement on Saturday, the NYCN chairman warned that no political ambition justifies threats to human life, insisting that young Deltans must not be turned into instruments of electoral violence while political leaders remain removed from its consequences.
“Senator Ovie Omo-Agege must stop preaching bloodshed with other people’s children on the firing line. If he believes violence is the price young people must pay for his 2027 Senatorial ambition, let him bring his own children to the frontline. You cannot gamble with the lives of Delta State youths while shielding your own family from the dangers you expect others to face. Our youth are not sacrificial lambs for your political ambition, and no senatorial seat is worth the blood of a single young Deltan,” Sagboje declared.
He described the remarks as troubling ahead of the 2027 elections, warning that inflammatory political statements could heighten tensions, intimidate voters and expose young people to injury, death and criminal prosecution.
According to him, youths from ordinary families must not be recruited as political foot soldiers, mobilised for confrontations and abandoned when the power struggle is over.
“Why should the children of market women, farmers, civil servants, artisans and struggling families be expected to kill, die or go to prison for Sen. Omo-Agege’s political ambition? Our youths are citizens with futures to protect, not expendable tools for political warfare,” he said.
The Deputy National Secretary of the Forum of NYCN State Chairmen stressed that the Council does not condone electoral malpractice, insisting that vote rigging, voter intimidation and other electoral offences must be investigated and prosecuted under the law.
“Electoral malpractice is a crime to be investigated and prosecuted. It is not a licence to kill. Senator Ovie Omo-Agege is not a court of law, and an election is not a battlefield. Therefore, he does not have the authority to determine who should live or die over an electoral dispute,” he stated.
He added that democratic principles cannot be upheld selectively, arguing that political grievances must be addressed through lawful procedures rather than threats or street violence.
“You cannot demand respect for due process when it favours you and encourage confrontation when it does not. The rule of law cannot be optional, and human life must never become the price of political disagreement,” Sagboje added.
The NYCN chairman called on the security and electoral authorities to examine the full video and take adequate regulatory action.
He also urged political parties, candidates and their supporters to conduct their campaigns peacefully and respect the safety and rights of citizens.
Addressing the youths, particularly those in Delta Central Senatorial District, Comr. Sagboje warned them against allowing themselves to be recruited into political thuggery, intimidation or unlawful confrontations.
“Do not kill for Sen. Omo-Agege. Do not die for him. Do not surrender your freedom, future or conscience to his personal ambition because when the political contest is over, he will move to do his daddy’s duties to his children overseas, but the young person who loses his life will never return, and the one who goes to prison may lose years of opportunity,” he cautioned.
He urged young people to participate in the democratic process through peaceful mobilisation, voter education and lawful election monitoring, while holding candidates accountable for their promises and public statements.
While reaffirming the Council’s commitment to protecting young people’s rights and interests, he insisted that the 2027 elections must be defined by credible participation, respect for the law and the free will of voters, not threats or violence.
“Sen. Omo-Agege may seek our votes, but he cannot demand our blood. Delta Central is not a battlefield, our youths are not his political ammunition, and no political ambition gives him the right to gamble with our lives because our future is not a sacrifice for his ambition. We will defend democracy, reject electoral violence and insist that every young Deltan has the right to participate in the electoral process without fear of becoming a casualty of political competition,” he declared.
