THE INFLUENCE OF POLITICAL GODFATHERISM ON INTRA-PARTY DEMOCRATIC PROCESSES IN THE PEOPLE’S DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDP), ABIA STATE (2007–2014)

CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background to the Study In the landscape of Nigerian politics, the phenomenon of godfatherism has remained a contentious issue with far-reaching consequences for party politics and democratic governance. The term "godfatherism" refers to a political arrangement wherein influential individuals—often referred to as godfathers—wield substantial control over political parties and their members. These individuals typically exert influence over party structures, candidate nominations, and the allocation of resources, often undermining democratic values and principles in the process (1). This dynamic has notably shaped the internal workings of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State, particularly during the period spanning 2007 to 2014. Internal party democracy refers to the internal processes and procedures within political parties, encompassing decision-making mechanisms such as candidate selection, leadership appointments, and policy development (2). Ideally, these processes should embody the collective will of the party's membership. However, in Nigeria, these mechanisms are frequently dominated by a few powerful individuals. Political parties play a critical role in any democratic setting, serving as platforms for representation, interest aggregation, and the formulation of public policy (3). Nevertheless, in many emerging democracies like Nigeria, internal party democracy has been persistently undermined by entrenched practices such as godfatherism, which erode principles of inclusion, transparency, and accountability. Historically, godfatherism in Nigeria dates back to the pre-independence era, when prominent individuals used their wealth and societal standing to influence political outcomes (4). Over time, this practice has evolved and become a deeply entrenched aspect of Nigeria’s political culture. Since the advent of the Fourth Republic, godfathers have become increasingly prominent, leveraging both political and economic power to dominate party operations (5). The consequences have been significant, ranging from internal party conflict and electoral violence to the marginalization of capable young politicians. The PDP in Abia State experienced a particularly intense period of godfatherism between 2007 and 2014. During this time, candidate imposition and the exclusion of grassroots voices from decision-making processes led to widespread internal discord. Influential political actors frequently prioritized personal agendas over party cohesion and democratic integrity (6). This led to declining public trust in the PDP, reputational damage, and internal fragmentation. The dominance of godfathers further impeded the establishment of a participatory political environment in the state (7). It fostered a patron-client political culture where loyalty to godfathers, rather than competence or merit, dictated access to political opportunities and resource allocation. As a result, elected officials often prioritized the interests of their sponsors over those of the electorate, thereby weakening internal party structures and contributing to poor governance. Consequently, this study seeks to explore the dynamics of godfatherism and its implications for internal party democracy within the Abia State PDP during the 2007–2014 period. 1.2 Statement of the Problem Between 2007 and 2014, senior members of the PDP in Abia State demonstrated attitudes and behaviors that reflected the prevailing political culture of Nigeria. This situation aligns with the idea that "culture" consists of historically shaped frameworks that guide human conduct, whether rational or otherwise (1). Even smaller political parties increasingly engage in strategic alliances with dominant parties through patron-client relationships (8), mirroring the broader culture of political godfatherism. Godfatherism has become a defining feature of Nigeria's political subculture, deeply influencing party structures across the board. Its entrenchment has led to a growing trust deficit among elected officials and rising public dissatisfaction with governance. It also perpetuates a perception of political exclusion, where individual votes seem to hold little significance in determining political outcomes. In Nigeria, godfathers hold considerable sway over electoral outcomes, candidate selection, and strategic decisions within parties like the PDP. This practice extends from the national down to the grassroots level, becoming institutionalized within party frameworks (9). Despite widespread acknowledgment of godfatherism as a deviation from democratic norms, it remains pervasive. Of particular concern is its encroachment into the judiciary, where party primaries—ideally determined through democratic competition—are increasingly settled through litigation rather than electoral contest (5). The influence of godfathers has also exacerbated vote-buying practices, especially in rural areas, thereby limiting the capacity of the electorate to challenge corrupt or unqualified candidates. This reinforces the view that godfatherism is not only prevalent but emblematic of Nigeria’s dominant political culture, particularly as practiced within the PDP. The consequences of this phenomenon are profound: party members and elected officials often serve the interests of political godfathers rather than the electorate, diminishing accountability mechanisms. Moreover, godfatherism restricts grassroots participation and hinders meaningful involvement of party members in decision-making, thereby weakening internal party democracy (10). The continuous interference of godfathers has undermined governance, intensified internal divisions, caused defections, and weakened party institutions. This has ultimately compromised electoral integrity and damaged democratic consolidation. Given these persistent challenges, this study aims to critically examine the relationship between godfatherism and internal party democracy in the PDP of Abia State from 2007 to 2014. 1.3 Objectives of the Study The main aim of this study is to examine Influence of Political Godfatherism on Intra-Party Democratic Processes in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Abia State (2007–2014). Specifically, the study objectives are to: 1. Examine the role of godfathers in the decision-making processes of the PDP in Abia State from 2007-2014 2. Assess the impact of godfatherism on the practice of internal party democracy within the PDP from 2007-2014 3. Investigate the extent to which godfatherism influences the selection of candidates for elections within the PDP from 2007-2014. 4. Analyze the implications of godfatherism for the overall political system in Abia State. 1.4 Significance of the Study This study is significant for several reasons. Firstly, it contributes to the existing literature on godfatherism and internal party democracy in Nigeria, particularly within the context of the PDP. Secondly, the findings of this study can inform policy discussions on electoral reform and the promotion of transparency and accountability within political parties. Finally, this study can provide valuable insights for political actors, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders concerned with the state of democracy in Nigeria. 1.5 Scope of the Study: This study focuses specifically on Influence of Political Godfatherism on Intra-Party Democratic Processes in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Abia State (2007–2014). Empirically, the study will examine the role of godfathers in the decision-making processes of the PDP in Abia State from 2007-2014, assess the impact of godfatherism on the practice of internal party democracy within the PDP from 2007-2014 , investigate the extent to which godfatherism influences the selection of candidates for elections within the PDP from 2007-2014 and analyze the implications of godfatherism for the overall political system in Abia State. Geographically, the study will be delimited to Abia State. 1.6 Research Methodology Research methodology deals with the different ways or methods the researcher applied in order to carry out the research as well as the instrument used for gathering the data. There are several research methodologies appropriate for answering the research questions. The type of research methodology used in this research to gather data and relevant information is the historical research and the study will adopt descriptive method of data collection. This will involve the collection of materials from secondary sources, such as books, journal articles, magazines, internet sources, international and national conference proceedings, published and unpublished articles. 1.7 Literature Review The concepts of godfatherism and internal party democracy are integral to understanding the political dynamics within Nigeria, particularly in relation to political parties such as the People's Democratic Party (PDP). The literature on these subjects offers a robust framework for analyzing how these factors influence political decision-making, candidate selection, and the overall functioning of the political system. This review will examine key works that address the relationship between godfatherism and internal party democracy, highlighting the implications for political parties in Nigeria, with a specific focus on the Abia State PDP from 2007 to 2014. Godfatherism in Nigerian Politics Godfatherism is a pervasive aspect of Nigerian politics, and several scholars have explored its consequences on political processes and governance.11 discuss the concept of people-centred democracy and argue that godfatherism undermines the democratic process by centralizing power in the hands of a few influential individuals, often referred to as "godfathers." They emphasize that godfatherism limits grassroots political participation, leading to an imbalance in political representation. 12, in his seminal work on prebendal politics in Nigeria, extends this argument by asserting that godfatherism perpetuates a clientelistic system where political offices are seen as rewards for personal loyalty rather than platforms for public service. This further entrenches corruption and weakens political institutions. Ita 8 provide historical context, focusing on Nigeria’s transition period under President Babangida. They argue that the military regime fostered conditions that allowed political godfathers to gain substantial power by filling the vacuum left by weakened democratic institutions. Bassey and Enetak,4 in his analysis of democracy and good governance in Nigeria, reinforces the idea that godfatherism threatens political accountability by creating a system where leaders are beholden to individual godfathers rather than the electorate. This dynamic diminishes public trust in the political process and challenges the legitimacy of elected officials. Internal Party Democracy Internal party democracy is critical for ensuring transparency, accountability, and inclusiveness within political parties. Adedeji and Ayo ( ) argue that godfatherism directly affects internal party democracy by limiting the ability of party members to participate meaningfully in decision-making processes. Instead of fostering open debates and elections within the party, decisions are often made by godfathers behind closed doors. Emordi, Oshodare and Attah-Echa6 supports this view, noting that the imposition of candidates by godfathers undermines the democratic principles within political parties, thereby leading to factionalism and internal conflicts. Ufuoma14 expands the discussion to a continental level, suggesting that internal party democracy is not only necessary for the sustainability of democratic systems in Africa but also critical for promoting political stability. His work on the feasibility of democracy in Africa argues that without internal democracy, political parties are vulnerable to elite manipulation, including the influence of godfathers. This creates an environment where decisions are made based on personal loyalty rather than merit or public interest, which further weakens the integrity of the political system. Impact of Godfatherism on Candidate Selection The role of godfatherism in candidate selection is another major focus of the literature. Omisore13, in their study on democratic transitions in Africa, examine how godfathers manipulate candidate selection processes to serve their interests. They argue that candidates selected by godfathers are often loyal to them, creating a system where political offices are distributed based on personal relationships rather than the merits of the candidates. This reduces the legitimacy of the electoral process and fosters public disillusionment with the political system. Ojo11 concurs, noting that godfatherism often leads to the imposition of candidates, many of whom lack popular support. This results in conflicts within the party and creates a breeding ground for electoral malpractice. Odigwe9 takes a more nuanced view by focusing on the broader implications of candidate imposition. He argues that while godfathers may maintain control over candidate selection, the long-term effect is the erosion of political competition. Potential candidates who are not aligned with powerful godfathers may be discouraged from participating, leading to a narrowing of political space and a decrease in the quality of leadership. The Need for Reforms to Promote Transparency and Accountability Several scholars have proposed reforms to mitigate the negative impacts of godfatherism and strengthen internal party democracy. In their study of global politics, argue that international standards for transparency and accountability within political parties could serve as models for reform in Nigeria. They suggest that promoting open and competitive processes for candidate selection would reduce the influence of godfathers and enhance the democratic credentials of political parties. Similarly, Ita8 advocates for the institutionalization of internal democratic practices within Nigerian political parties, such as holding regular party congresses, increasing member participation in decision-making, and promoting merit-based selection processes. Ayoade3 suggests that political reforms aimed at strengthening internal party democracy should focus on creating mechanisms that limit the influence of godfathers. He argues that party regulations should explicitly prohibit the imposition of candidates by powerful individuals and instead promote open competition for party nominations. These reforms, according to Ake, would not only improve the transparency of political parties but also foster greater accountability and responsiveness to the electorate. 1.8 Organization of the study The study is categorized into five chapters. The first chapter presents the background of the study, statement of the problem, objective of the study, research questions, assumptions, the significance of the study, scope of the study, and definition of terms. The chapter two will covers the review of literature with emphasis on conceptual framework, theoretical framework, and empirical review. Likewise, the chapter three, specifically covers internal party democracy and godfatherism 2007-2014. The second to last chapter being the chapter four presents implication of godfathers in Abia state PDP, while the last chapter (chapter five) contains the summary, conclusion and recommendation.