Ethnic othering in Nigeria’s electoral discourse : the need for intercultural competence

Abstract

This study examines online ethnic othering during Nigeria's 2023 general elections. The study employs a critical discourse analytic (CDA) framework and utilises a corpus of 7678 Facebook comments from Nigerians. The analysis reveals that individuals from the Yoruba ethnic group stereotype the Igbo people by questioning their legitimacy and voting rights as residents in Yoruba lands, especially Lagos. This stereotype is perpetuated through the legitimation strategy of historicising ethnic politics, which justifies ethnic prejudices. The study concludes with a call for intercultural competence, which is crucial in promoting respect for diversity, human rights, and inter-ethnic differences. Nchọcha a lebara anya n'akpamoke agbụrụ e nwere na ntụli aka elu izugbe Naịjirịa e mere na 2023. Nchọcha a ji atụtụ CDA wee tụchaa ọdọokwu ederede Facebook dị 7678 si n'aka ndị Naịjirịa. Ntụcha gosiri na ndị Yoruba kpasara ndị Igbo oke site n'ịgbagha ikike ha nwere ịtụ vootu dịka ndị bi n'ala Yoruba, ọkachasị Lagos. E ji nrụtụ aka ihe mere n'oge ochie gbasara agbụrụ ndị ndọrọndọrọ ọchịchị kwado akpamoke agbụrụ. Na nchịkọta, nchọcha tụnyere alo ka e nwee mmata ụbara omenaala nke dị mkpa n'ịkwalite nsọpụrụ ndịmiche, ikikere mmadụ, na ndịiche dị n'etiti agbụrụ na ibe ya.