GODFATHERISM, LAW AND POLITICS IN NIGERIAN DEMOCRACY

Abstract

Godfatherism is one of the notable challenges of democratic progression in Nigeria. It undermines the quality and stability of democratic process. Democracy is a concept predicated on the free will of the masses in electing their leaders and representatives in government, through a periodic free, fair and credible election. The Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and the Electoral Act, 2022 make provisions for election qualifications and godfatherism is not one of the qualifications. In Nigeria, godfatherism truncates the free will, peaceful co-existence, law and order and all the tenets of democratic process. The recurrent fallouts between godfathers and godsons and the struggle by godsons to remain politically loyal to godfathers result to political instability, insecurity, bad governance etc thereby messing up the whole essence of democracy. This article therefore analyzed the nature, causes, effects and the position of the law on godfatherism with a view to suggesting ways to curb the menace of godfatherism in Nigeria’s political landscape. The research method adopted is the doctrinal methodology whereof, primary, secondary and tertiary sources such as case laws, textbooks, journals, newspapers, internet materials etc were consulted. Findings show that godfatherism weakens the legitimacy of good governance. That, weak democratic institutions enable godfatherism in Nigeria’s politics. This article recommended the strengthening of Nigeria’s democratic institutions in order to break the stronghold of godfatherism on Nigeria’s democracy.