Language and Politics in Nigeria
Abstract
Abstract This study examines how language influences political discourse, interaction, and political choice in Nigeria. Using Critical Discourse Analysis and Ethnolinguistic Identity Theory as analytical frameworks, the study analyzes selected political speeches, campaign messages, and political interactions within institutions such as the National Assembly of Nigeria. The findings reveal that political actors strategically use English, indigenous languages, and Nigerian Pidgin to communicate political ideas, mobilize voters, and shape political perceptions. The study concludes that language is a powerful tool that influences political communication and democratic participation in Nigeria. The study recommends that political actors adopt inclusive multilingual communication strategies incorporating indigenous languages and Nigerian Pidgin alongside English. Electoral bodies should develop multilingual voter education campaigns, while media organisations should provide political content in widely understood languages to bridge the communication gap between institutions and citizens. Digital platforms should be utilised to broaden civic engagement, and future research should investigate the relationship between language use and voter behaviour across different regions of Nigeria to deepen understanding of how linguistic diversity shapes democratic governance. The work contributes to political communication scholarship by demonstrating how linguistic strategies mediate power, identity, and electoral