TEXTUAL ANALYSIS OF SELECTED X'S (FORMERLY TWITTER) 2023 POST- ELECTION "ETHNIC HATE MESSAGES AGAINST THE IGBO PEOPLE OF

Nigeria’s post-election atmosphere has always been inundated with one form of crisis or the other. The 2023 generalelection was not an exception to this historical fact. This study aimed to determine the degree of post-election ethnichate messages against the Igbo people of Nigeria. The study is anchored on the social responsibility theory. Theresearchers employed qualitative textual analysis as the research methodology, where posts and comments from X(formerly Twitter were textually analysed. Findings from the study revealed that hate messages are targeted againstthe Igbo people of Nigeria. From the hate messages analysed, Igbos were framed as betrayers, political intruders,subservient, people deserving of mass killing, and those never to begiven the opportunity of leadership in Nigeria.Also, the researchers found that hate messages against Igbos continuously strain the unity of Nigeria as each electionseason impacts the unity of the country negatively. Further findings indicated that hate messages against the Igbosemanate from both prominent Nigerians and ordinary citizens. The researchers concluded that Hate Messages aredangerous and can set Nigeria ablaze if left unchecked and recommend that: X (formerly Twitter) and Nigeriagovernment should activate punitive measures against posters of hate messages to deter those who may want to takethat path.