You have no items in your shopping cart.
ABSTRACT
The menace of Godfatherism in Nigerian politics over the years cast a profound shadow on the dividends of democracy; and imparted detrimental effects that resonated across the political landscape. This phenomenon was marked by patronage networks and influential figures who manipulated political processes, distorted the democratic ethos, perpetuated corruption and obstructed the establishment of transparent and accountable governance structures in Edo State. This study was based on the following objectives; to examine the causal relationship between political godfatherism and conflict in Edo State, to determine how political godfatherism influences the electoral processes and outcomes in Edo State, to identify specific mechanisms through which political godfatherism can lead to conflict in Edo State, to determine the extent extent political godfatherism undermines the democratic principles and institutions of Edo State. Elite theory and Karl Marx’s conflict theory served as the theoretical framework of the study. At the same time, a quantitative method was adopted for this study with the questionnaire as the major instrument for data collection. The inhabitants of Oredo Local government area, Edo State, were the main study population. Secondary data was also sourced from library sources, articles, books, and journals were also utilized based on the study objectives. This study revealed a strong relationship between political godfatherism and political conflict in Edo State. Respondents overwhelmingly perceive godfatherism as a significant driver of conflict, with godfathers actively instigating and exacerbating violence. Their influence is pervasive, extending to control over economic opportunities and resources, which are selectively distributed to loyalists, entrenching economic disparities and fuelling competition. Furthermore, the study demonstrated the deep influence of godfathers on electoral processes and outcomes particularly in Edo state. To mitigate the detrimental effects of political godfatherism there is need to strengthen democratic institutions by ensuring the independence and capacity of the judiciary, electoral bodies, and law enforcement agencies; promoting transparency and accountability in electoral processes through measures like biometric voter registration and campaign finance monitoring; addressing the root causes of political violence through social programs and inclusive development initiatives; strengthening the rule of law and enforcing regulations against electoral offenses; empowering civil society and the media to act as watchdogs; and fostering ethical leadership committed to public service.
