Critical Discourse Analysis of Gubernatorial Debates in Abia State 2015 and 2019 Elections

Abstract

Critical discourse analysis is a type of discourse analytical research that views language as a powerful means through which specific ideologies, identities, and culture become dominant in a society. This is captured in the debates of gubernatorial candidates in Abia State 2015 and 2019 elections. The study examines language use, politics, the relationship between language and politics and ideologies employed by the candidates. The study uses tripartite theoretical framework in analysing the data for the study. The tripartite theories are Fairclough’s Three Dimensional Theory, van Dijk Socio-cognitive Theory and Systemic Functional Theory. The choice of this framework is to ensure that every aspect of the debates is not neglected. The analytical tools are applied to gubernatorial debates in Abia State held in 2015 and 2019 elections. The study uses multi-method approach. The findings reveal that the gubernatorial debates encode power and dominance with ideological undertone. Also that power of dominance is achieved through the use of pronominal selection which allows the speaker to enforce his views on others. The study concludes that the text produced in 2015 and 2019 gubernatorial electioneering debates in Abia State, not only promote unequal power relations, rather they also produced, reproduced, legitimized and maintained social structures that sustain domination.