ABSTRACT

 This study delved deep into the inflammatory discourse employed by certain Nigerians to articulate their political views, a discourse that had already sown the seeds of division.

 With the employment of qualitative methodology, it unbiasedly dissected the incendiary language choices in form of hate speeches, invectives, threats and negative labelling used to stoke the fires of polarisation among Nigerians. Guided by van Dijk's “Discourse Analysis as Ideology Analysis,” this study vividly illuminated how discourse had the power to not only polarise political ideologies but also perpetuate the divisive ‘us versus them’ mentality.

 Through its rigorous exploration, this research left no room for doubt that incendiary discourse posed a clear and present danger to social cohesion, nurturing an atmosphere steeped in distrust, and had the potential of causing both physical and mental harm.