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STRUCTURIZING INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES INTO ELECTORAL PROCESS

 Josiah Egbilika

Language, Gender and Human Rights Advocate and Naijalogist

Campaigns are integral part of every electoral process. Through campaigns, electoral stakeholders pass messages to the public, educate the public on certain issues patterning the electoral process.

The political parties and politicians do not joke with campaigns, in fact, campaigns are their bedrock, "nextdoor wife" if they need to keep themselves in the mind of the people to draw sympathy towards themselves.

Parties and Politicians use campaigns to inform the people of the candidates and gladiators that will square it out in the "egelege" (native wrestling) fight called election.


Beyond campaigns, other electoral process like voter's education, sensitization, rallies, etc. are all part to ensure a successful, free and fair election.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) uses sensitization to educate the public on how to vote, how to take their permanent voter's card popularly known as PVC; inform the public on election scheduled dates, create awareness on new developments and more.


The Media also do sensitization using their various medium. They organize programmes that will inform change among the electorates; analyze and critical opinions and candidates' manifestos.


Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) and well meaning individuals carryout voter's education, all to ensure the public are sensitized and are not ignorant of the electoral set out rules, process and procedures.


But, regrettably, almost all these campaigns, sensitization, voter's education are produced and carried out using majorly English Language and then Naija (the lingual name for Nigerian Pidgin). Only a few is done using the indigenous languages.


Undoubtedly, these actions and inactions impact on our Languages negatively. It sustains the misconception that portray our indigenous languages as not being useful, adding to the already battle of extinction faced by the language. 

The Immediate Action

Positive marketing of our indigenous languages should be everybody's business. Process as election that attracts global attention to the nation is an avenue to sell our languages to world space.

Every stakeholder involved in the electoral process should by necessity build the utilization of languages into their planning process. It should be part of the plan process and not a mere addition when the needs arise, No, mba (Igbo), Lara o (Yoruba), o wa kpo o ( Ubimini-Ikwerre - not so o).


Jingles should be produced in our indigenous languages along side English and Naija. When political parties go for their rallies, they should put it as part of their communication strategies to include language speakers who will pass their intended message in the indigenous languages represented in the areas of their rallies including their mega parties. 


Let the Ikwerre person, the Ogoni, Igbo, Yoruba, Efik, Ibibio, Tarok, Tiv, Okirika person get an opportunity to address his/her people in the language they understand before the gladiators will address the people using English or Naija. Basically, I will suggest Naija (Nigerian Pidgin) because it makes us more Nigerian to English.


Electoral stakeholders should make room for interpreters when carrying out their campaigns, voter's education, town hall meetings. Town criers should be employed to disseminate information to communities.

Furthermore, electoral materials should also be produced using our indigenous languages. Stakeholders should be encouraged to produce banners, handbills, posters and billboards using the languages. These and more will strengthen our indigenous languages, market it positively and place them on global space.

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