Contexts and Forms of Hate Speech in Nigeria’s 2023 Presidential Election Discourse

Election periods in Nigeria often serve as crucial moments for the manifestation of hate speech. This study examines the contextual triggers and rhetorical strategies used in constructing hate speech during Nigeria’s 2023 presidential election. Using van Dijk’s sociocognitive approach to critical discourse analysis, it examines speeches and comments from political actors and their supporters, published in Punch , Daily Post and on X between January 2022 and May 2023. Six strategies, derogation, stereotyping, dehumanisation, scapegoating, demonisation and polarisation, emerged across four key contexts: ethnic orientation, religious affiliation, political ideology and historical alliance. These strategies reinforce negative stereotypes and undermine social cohesion, highlighting the destructive impact of hate speech on national unity and the need for interventions in political elections. Thus, addressing the prejudices that fuel hate speech is essential to effectively curb and mitigate its impacts.