Political godfatherism is a system in which influential individuals support candidates vying for political office and control them once they are in office. It is generally regarded as a transactional relationship, where the godfather makes it possible for the candidate to scale all political and electoral hurdles, in exchange for a promise of some reward, often in the form of access to government’s resources and power.

Political godfatherism is one factor that has shaped politics in Nigeria, cutting deep into true follower-leadership relationships, often disguised as political sponsorship. It has led Nigeria into a web of political slavery, dogmatic followership, political crisis (where the arrangement breaks down), and needless political crisis.

Since 1999, after Nigeria returned to democracy, the country has experienced a wide range of practices of godfatherism, resulting in disharmony, disunity, conflict, dissatisfaction, and disaffection within political groups in the country.

Political godfatherism often begins with the selection of candidates by powerful political stakeholders who prioritize loyalty and personal allegiances. The candidates are financially funded through a costly election process, creating a system of political indebtedness that keeps the candidate enslaved to the process that got him into office.

The billions of naira expended by Nigerian godfathers for bankrolling the elections of their godsons have totally monetized elections in Nigeria, which automatically disqualifies men of honor, character, and integrity from holding elected public positions.

Godfatherism has significant effects and that includes the inability of voters to openly nominate a candidate who will rule them and serve their interests, denying them their rights, considering the way godfathers impose candidates of their choice on the general public. This is the most alarming and destructive effects of Godfatherism, negating one of the most important characteristics of governance and democracy, which is open government and freedom of choice.

The act of godfatherism has also contributed immensely to corruption, giving room for public funds to be frequently diverted to satisfy the demands of godfathers, especially as repayment of favours received during the electioneering process, thereby weakening accountability and reducing the quality of public service delivery.

Adding to the effects of godfatherism, is how it fuels political instability, especially when there are disputes between godfathers and their godsons. Such disagreements have, in many cases, led to crises within political parties and disruptions in governance. In some cases, Rivers State being the most recent, disputes resulting from the breakdown of godfather-godson relationship can even cripple governance completely.

The system also discourages reliable and independent candidates from participating in politics, as the high cost of elections and the influence of political sponsors create a barrier.

In Anambra state, the relationship between Chris Uba and Chris Ngige proves the tension that may erupt from godfather-godson relationships, which was associated with political violence, corruption, and instability in the early 2000s, the early years of the fourth Republic.

In Kwara State, political power was largely controlled by Late Olusola Saraki and later his son, Bukola Saraki. Political history records that candidate selection and electoral outcomes in the state were highly influenced by these key individuals, until the ‘O to ge’ movement of 2019 that dismantled the Saraki hegemony.

In Oyo State, the political influence of Late Lamidi Adedibu was another dimension of godfatherism. His conflict with former governor Rashidi Ladoja highlighted how disagreements between godfathers and their protégés can cause political tension.

Nigeria recently witnessed how tension developed between the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, and his estranged godfather, Nyesom Wike, who helped him win the 2023 governorship election. The issue reflects a familiar pattern in Nigeria politics where disagreements between political sponsors and their successors can lead to political instability.

There are several factors that have immensely strengthened godfatherism in Nigeria and one of them is the weakness of political systems in the country. Where power should belong to the people, through strong political structures that allow for collective decision-making, individuals amass undue influence and control political outcomes.

Another key factor is the high cost of elections. The high cost of election has become a potent man-made force that forces candidates to seek help and support from stupendously rich leaders, as they are unable to afford the cost of elections. This leads to a system of revolving political indebtedness.

This monetization of politics has normalized the idea of political investment, forcing a system of Return of Investment, ROI. This gives godfathers the leverage to sponsor candidates with the expectation of financial returns once they assume office.

Addressing godfatherism in Nigeria may require strengthening political institutions, starting from political parties, to return power to the mass of the people. Institutions such as the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, also need to be empowered to ensure keener coordination of political parties in a manner that allows for more transparent participation, and stronger internal democracy.

Second, there should be strict enforcement of the extant laws of campaign financing to reduce the influence of wealthy political sponsors who may want to take advantage of the monetization of the political process.

Third, a stronger anti-corruption enforcement may be needed to ensure public office holders are accountable to the people, not political godfathers. If consequences of misappropriation of public funds are keenly enforced, political office holders will be discouraged from the practice of settling political debts with government funds.

Political godfatherism remains a significant challenge in Nigeria’s political system, shaping political processes through control, loyalty, and financial influence. While it has become deeply entrenched, its effects, ranging from poor governance to political instability continue to undermine public trust in leadership.

Although, godfatherism is a cankerworm that has eaten deep into the fabric of our Nation’s political system, it is not beyond redemption. Strengthening political institutions, promoting transparency, and encouraging active citizen participation can help reduce its influence.