Elections, Hate Speech and National Integration in Nigeria

Ethno-regional coalition during electioneering has become an intrinsic historical relic of political mobilisations in Nigeria. However, the 2015 presidential election had the added feature of being highly tainted with hate campaigns and mudslinging as Nigeria witnessed, more than ever, the mobilisation of voters along ethno-religious and geo-political lines. These primordial concerns shaped the pre-election period, the post-election rivalry, and mistrust between in-groups and out-groups, as well as the exclusionary political appointments of President Muhammadu Buhari's regime. Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other discussion forums were exploited for the propagation of hate-laden contents. As a consequence and contrary to the emphasis of Section 14 (3) of the 1999 Constitution and Goal #10.2 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development on political inclusion, post-election appointments have been sectional and divisive. This has greatly impaired the quest for national integration under President Buhari's regime. Hence, this article investigates the role of hate campaigns, especially through the manipulation of social media, in weakening post-election national integration and state-building in Nigeria. The data generated from documentary evidence were analysed thematically. The study concludes that the deliberate reduction of post-election exclusionary tendencies through the democratisation of politics is the panacea for national integration in Nigeria.