IMPOLITENESS STRATEGIES IN SELECTED POLITICAL FACEBOOK COMMENTS ON NIGERIA’S 2023 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION RESULTS

Abstract

The pervasive and often aggressive nature of online political discourse, particularly in post-election environments, poses a significant challenge to Nigeria’s democratic processes and social cohesion. Various important political events in the country are
usually characterised by escalating tensions and divisive rhetoric, particularly in online interactions. The use of language in this manner to achieve a divisive end prompts an investigation into the processes by which impoliteness is exploited to oppose identities, interpersonal relationships, social normsand ideologies in selected political comments on Facebook following the announcement of the 2023 presidential election results in Nigeria.Through a blend of Brown and Levinson's Face Theory and Culpepper's (2013) Impoliteness Theory, this paper examines the nature of impolite discourse in contentious online interactions. The methodology involves the qualitative analysis of a corpus of Facebook comments, focusing on identifying recurrent patterns of impolite language and their contextual deployment. The findings reveal a significant prevalence of impoliteness, which is characterised by contempt, name-calling, dismissal, cursing, sarcasm and insults. The paper also identifies the perceived anonymity of online platforms, the contentious nature of the election results, pre-existing political polarisation of Nigerian society and widespread anger and frustration among the citizenry as major factors contributing to the strategic deployment of impoliteness, in the form of divisive rhetoric, attack to the face of others, expression of negative emotions and ridiculing of opposing personalities, by commentators on Facebook following the announcement of the 2023 presidential election results in Nigeria. The study concludes that the exploitation of impoliteness by social media users in Nigeria has severe consequences – such as promoting an "us versus them" mentality, creating a hostile online environment and eroding civil discourse – on the unity and peaceful coexistence of Nigerians. The online commentators’ impolite comments hinder meaningful political discussion and pose a threat to democratic processes and social cohesion in Nigeria. The research, therefore, underscores the urgent need for
strategies to promote constructive and respectful online engagement to safeguard democratic ideals among Nigerians.