CRITICAL DISCOURSE ANALYSIS OF SELECTED SPEECHES OF PETER NDUBUISI MBAH

Abstract

This study investigates the role of language in constructing political legitimacy, ideology and governance in the discourse of His Excellency, Gov. Barr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah. By using the Critical Discourse Analysis as its framework, the study is anchored in the theoretical perspectives of Norman Fairclough and Teun A. van Dijk. The study adopts a qualitative design to analyse selected speeches and public statements delivered between 2023 and 2025. The analysis focuses on key discursive features such as pronoun usage, modality, lexical choices and rhetorical strategies. Findings reveal that the discourse is strategically structured to construct a collective political identity through inclusive language, legitimise authority through performance-based narratives and reframe political actions as public-oriented initiatives. The study further demonstrates how ideological meanings are embedded in development-oriented expressions and how power is enacted through persuasive and authoritative linguistic forms. By foregrounding governance as a central theme, the discourse positions leadership as responsive and result-driven. The study contributes to existing literature by extending Critical Discourse Analysis to sub national political communication in Nigeria and highlights the significance of language as a tool for shaping political realities and public perception.