POLITICAL GODFATHERISM

This study examines the impact of political godfatherism on electoral outcomes in the 2024 Edo State gubernatorial election, focusing on how political godfathers influence voter behaviour, candidate selection, and the perceived credibility of the electoral process. Godfathers dominated candidate selection and party processes, weakening internal democracy, elite theory explains this as power concentrated in the hands of a few, while patron – client theory highlights the exchange relationship between godfathers and loyal supporters. The research adopts an empirical approach, utilizing structured questionnaires administered to 250 respondents across selected local government areas in Edo State (Egor local government, Esan west local government, Etsako west local government). Data were analyzed using empirical tools and
regression analysis to determine the extent of relationships between variables. The findings indicate that political godfathers continue to shape electoral dynamics by influencing voter turnout through endorsements, mobilization efforts, and strategic directives targeted at their loyalists