GODFATHERISM AND ELECTORAL MALPRACTICE IN NIGERIA A STUDY OF THE 2003 AND 2007 GENERAL ELECTIONS

An emergent feature ofpolitics in Nigeria is the phenomenon of godfatherism and in the leadership of political parties. As a result of political class corruption of the electoral process and governmental structures, electoral parties and State power are skewed towards satisfying themselves regarding interest of the dominant political otherwise known as political godfathers. Relying on the wealth, they secure party nomination for candidates of their choice, sponsor their election, including manipulating the electoral process. This project is interested to examine critically the politics of godfatherism and electoral malpractice in Nigeria and it’s implication for the people’s clamour for democracy. It is also intended to proffer logically derived solutions to the problems of godfatherism and the survival of democracy in Nigeria.