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SUMMARY
Godfatherism has continued to cast threatening shadows over the democratization process in Nigeria, particular under the Fourth Republic. The weak institutionalization of democratic infrastructures such as the people, political parties, and INEC may be attributed to the godfathers. The result has been a heavy dependence on the use of money and force to influence politics, at the expense of due process. The consequences have manifested in the form of choice-less democracy, where the party and the people have only such influence as the godfathers will permit. This tendency poses a serious threat to justifiable democracy. It is important to conclude with some recommendations about what should be done to contain the monster godfatherism has become in Nigeria. First, the philosophical foundations of Nigerian politics over the years seem to have been predicated on the winner-take-all system. This disposition tends to strengthen the role of godfathers since they know that they will monopolize the dividends of their investment in the election of their godsons. There is a need to rethink this philosophy to ensure that winners no longer take all. If this is properly handled it has the potential to reduce the determination of godfathers to invest their all-in a given election, and thereby reduce the costs of elections1.
