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Journal VOL. 4 NO. 1, June. 2025, ISSN: 2714 - 4054

 

Democracy, Godfatherism and Governance in Nigeria: A Review.

Ogunwa Samuel Adetola

 

ABSTRACT

The issue of godfathers in electoral politics is global and noticeable in liberal democracies particularly in multiparty democracies. In Third World, where democracy is fast growing, notwithstanding socio-economic challenges have debased qualified and popular candidates to emerge victoriously in several elections because they lack capacities, resources and political structures to win election. The godfathers and electoral financiers are essentially necessary in the Third World politics. The political parties sometimes neglect quality and meritocracy for mediocre. The mediocre are supported and electoral expenses are paid by the political party or godfathers. This has socio-economic and political consequences on the party and the polity. The paper observes that godfathers have dominated the political parties and bankrolled the elections of godsons to emerge as governors, senators, local government chairmen, among others in Nigeria. The sponsorship of party candidates is regarded as investments which the beneficiaries must pay back in the areas of political largesse including contracts, appointments, and monetary. The partial refusal or noncompliance by the godsons to pay back on these terms has led to impeachments, removal and hijacking of government machinery from the godsons. This has led to a big gap between the state and people and the crises of governance in the country. The paper concludes that the sponsorship of party candidates is a norm of politics especially in developing countries accentuated by widespread poverty, malnutrition, hunger. And that godfathers should be remembered for positive contributions to governance as against creating more underdevelopment through the reaping of few resources meant for socio-economic, infrastructural and amenities in the polity. 

Keywords: Party politics, Godfathers, Democracy, Governance, Nigeria.

 

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