EXCLUSIONIST POLICIES AND THE EXACERBATION OF IDENTITY POLITICS IN NIGERIA’S FOURTH REPUBLIC (1999–2024)

Abstract

This study interrogates the link between exclusionist policies and the exacerbation of Identity politics in Nigeria's Fourth Republic (1999-2024), examining how political marginalisation, ethnoregional imbalance, and selective governance have fuelled Identity-based agitation, electoral violence, and secessionist movements. The study adopts a qualitative methodology and employs historical and documentary analysis, anchored in Social Identity Theory, Elite Theory, and the Horizontal Inequalities framework, to provide a nuanced understanding of the social-political consequences of exclusion. Research findings reveal that exclusionist state practices have deepened ethno-regional fault lines, compromised democratic ideals, and eroded national cohesion. while various policy initiatives, national conferences, and civic movements have sought to address these challenges, their impact remains limited without comprehensive political restructuring and a genuine commitment to inclusive governance.