MANIPULATION OF ETHNO-RELIGIOUS SENTIMENT IN THE 2023 GENERAL ELECTIONS: IMPLICATIONS ON NIGERIA’S UNITY

The Nigeria’s multi-ethnic and multi-religious settings constituted a huge socio-political problem that are inimical to Nigeria’s national unity. Ethno-religious sentiments played a key role in the formation of political parties during the First Republic. The three major political parties (NCNC, NPC and AG) were established by the then regional governments; Western Region, Northern Region and Eastern Region. The parties were the political players of the First Republic. Ethno-religious differences constituted a very fundamental question among the political parties, which in fact, paved way for the collapsed of the First Republic, which consequently, threw Nigeria in to civil war. Bearing in mind, the negative effect of ethno-religious sentiments in to the body of Nigeria’s polity, the political elites came up with a number of measures with a view to addressing the ethno-religious sentiments that brought the end of the First Republic; Nigeria was divided in to six geo-political zones with a view to give each zone opportunity to lead the country. In addition to this, Muslim/Christian Presidential ticket or vice versa, became a tradition in to the Nigeria’s political space. Against this background, the paper presents historical formation of political parties in Nigeria, stressing the indisputable role of ethno-religious sentiments in the formation of the political parties. Equally, the paper examines the resurgence of ethno-religious politics, delving on 2023 Nigeria’s general elections. It also highlights the wave of Muslim-Muslim ticket and how it rejuvenated the intrusion of ethno-religious inclusion in to the body of Nigeria’s polity. Using documentary sources, the paper posits the implications of manipulation of ethno-religious sentiments, essentially, as it relate to 2023 general elections and how it constitutes formidable threat to Nigeria’s unity.