ISSN: 1595-5842 | E-ISSN: 3043-5463 | Google Indexed | DOI Registered with Crossref | Peer-Reviewed Open Access Journal
Alvan Journal of Social Sciences International Peer-Reviewed Open Access Journal
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Alvan Journal of Social Sciences (AJSS)

ISSN: 1595-5842 | E-ISSN: 3043-5463 | DOI Registered with Crossref | Google Indexed

A scholarly platform for interdisciplinary research in governance, procurement, sustainability, education, development studies, environmental management, logistics, and the wider social sciences.

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Volume 3, Issue 1 (2026)

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Research Article

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Prof. Ngozi Casmir Ebomuche

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AJSS Article 043

← Volume 3, Issue 2 Contents

POWER- POLITICS AND THE INFLUENCE OF GODFATHERISM IN NIGERIA: A STRUGGLE FOR LIBERATION IN RIVERS STATE, 2024-2026

Stanley Okechukwu Orisakwe; Ezendah Okparanta

Journal
Alvan Journal of Social Sciences
Volume/Issue
3(2), 2026
Pages
558-574
DOI
10.67638/ajss-2026-v3-i2-043
Keywords
Godfatherism, power-politics, rivers state, elite theory, neopatrimonialism.
Corresponding author
Godfavour Olayemi Babatunde
Email
babatundegodfavour@gmal.com
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Abstract

Godfatherism remains a deeply entrenched informal institution shaping democratic practice in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic. This paper examines power-politics and the resurgence of godfather influence in Rivers State between 2024 and 2026, situating the crisis within Nigeria’s broader neo- patrimonial political culture. Rivers State, historically marked by intense elite rivalry and resource- driven contestation, provides a compelling case for analyzing the tension between formal democratic structures and informal patron-client networks. Anchored in Elite Theory and Neopatrimonialism, the study explains how political power is concentrated within a small ruling class that manipulates democratic institutions through patronage and loyalty networks. Using qualitative methods, including documentary analysis, media reports, and elite interviews, the study argues that recent political tensions reflect a structural struggle between institutional governance and personalized power control. Godfatherism operates through domination of party primaries, legislative alignment, patronage distribution, and strategic deployment of security and judicial processes, resulting in governance instability and declining public trust. The findings indicate that its persistence stems from weak institutionalization, monetized electoral politics, and entrenched elite interests that undermine accountability. The Rivers State crisis therefore represents a broader national struggle for democratic liberation from oligarchic capture. The study recommends comprehensive reform of political party structures to guarantee enforceable intra-party democracy, including stronger regulatory oversight of party primaries by the Independent National Electoral Commission and transparent, rule-based candidate selection processes to curb elite dominance.

Citation

Stanley Okechukwu Orisakwe; Ezendah Okparanta (2026). POWER- POLITICS AND THE INFLUENCE OF GODFATHERISM IN NIGERIA: A STRUGGLE FOR LIBERATION IN RIVERS STATE, 2024-2026. Alvan Journal of Social Sciences, 3(2), 558-574. https://doi.org/10.67638/ajss-2026-v3-i2-043

Stanley Okechukwu Orisakwe
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