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ABSTRACT
In Nigeria, the politics of godfatherism has assumed a negative connotation as it has become a condition for many political hopefuls to achieve their political aspirations. Ordinarily, the political landscape in Nigeria dictates that godfathers should serve as sources of inspiration and their track record should compel aspiring politicians to seek out the guidance of these seasoned leaders. Political godfathers and their godsons, on the other hand, appear to be engaging in a different kind of relationship. It is based on this premise that this study sought to examine godfatherism and political conflict using an opinion survey of voters in Edo State. This was achieved using four research questions; how does political godfatherism affect Nigeria’s ability to run a successful government, to what extent is there a culture of political patronage in Nigeria, has Nigeria’s democratic system has been weakened by political godfatherism, how does godfatherism affect democratic process and governance, and lastly how can political godfatherism be eliminated in Nigeria. In finding answers to these research questions, the study adopted a quantitative method of analysis using one hundred residents of Oredo local government area, Edo state. The study argued that the activities of political godfather’s have negatively affected the democratic gains of the past and this has deepened rot in the polity.
