LANGUAGE USAGE IN NIGERIAN POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS AND RALLIES AND ENHANCEMENT OF PEACE, SECURITY AND ELECTORAL PROCESS

Abstract

Language is one of the greatest media through which human beings globally communicate express and pass thoughts and ideas to fellow human beings. It can be used to glorify and degrade an individual, group of individuals, tribe or tribes, nation and nations etc. thus the importance of language cannot be over-stressed. It is in this perspective that the paper examines the use of language in political rallies and campaigns in Nigeria and shows how the language use in passing the contents to the audience or populace can enhance or destroy peace, security and the electoral process. In achieving this, samples of languages used in campaigns and rallies were gathered and analysed to show how they can enhance of destroy peace, security and electoral process in Nigeria. Some of the issues addressed by the paper include hate speeches, tribal and religious bigotry, regional superiority or aberration and others. At the end suggestions on how to enhance peace, security and perfection of the electoral process through the use of language is proffered.