Godfatherism and Political Recruitment in Enugu State: Trends and Consequences (2015-2023)

This study examines the influence of political godfatherism on political recruitment processes in Enugu State between 2015 and 2023, with attention to how patron-client relations shape candidate selection and electoral outcomes. Godfatherism has remained a pervasive feature of Nigerian sub-national politics, distorting meritocratic political recruitment and sustaining non-programmatic governance. The study is anchored on Patron-Client Theory, particularly as applied by Christopher Clapham to African political systems, which emphasises the exchange of political loyalty for protection and material benefits. A qualitative research design was employed, utilising in-depth interviews with twelve key informants including politicians, party officials, and political analysts in Enugu State. Documentary evidence from newspaper archives, court records, and party primaries reports was also analysed. Findings reveal that godfather networks exercise decisive influence over candidate nomination in all three senatorial zones of Enugu State, frequently overriding democratic party processes. The study finds that aspirants who lack godfather endorsements are systematically excluded from primaries through financial and procedural barriers. It further reveals that godfathers extract policy concessions and public contract allocations as returns on their political investments, compromising governance quality. It is concluded that godfatherism constitutes a structural deformation of political recruitment in Enugu State, undermining democratic accountability. The study recommends the strengthening of intra-party democracy regulations, direct primaries legislation, and independent monitoring of candidate nomination processes by electoral authorities.

Keywords: Godfatherism, political recruitment, Enugu State, patron-client relations, democratic accountability