IIARD International Institute of Academic Research and Development

RESEARCH JOURNAL OF MASS COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (RJMCIT )

E-ISSN 2545-529X
P-ISSN 2695-2475
VOL. 10 NO. 2 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.56201/rjmcit.v10.no2.2024.pg86.96

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Residents’ Perception of Political Godfatherism and Interference in Governance in Rivers State

Samuel, Otikor Njanubok, PhD, Ikechi, Chibitam Kem, PhD, Nikade, Anderson Akpoabowei, PhD

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Abstract

This study examined how residents of Rivers State perceived the political godfatherism that played out between immediate past Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike and his successor, Siminalayi Fubara and how the political faux pas interfered in the governance of Rivers State. The objectives of the study were to find out the perception of residents of Rivers State on godfatherism in the governance of Rivers State; ascertain in the perception of Rivers State residents, the extent of interference of political godfatherism in the governance of Rivers State in the case of Nyesom Wike and Siminalayi Fubara, and determine how to curb incessant interference to allow for good governance in Rivers State. The study was anchored on the Elite theory and the perception theory. It adopted the survey research design with a population of 3,537,190 obtained from the Independent National Electoral Commission as registered voters in Rivers State. The sample size of 384 was drawn using the Keyton table. The simple random sampling technique was used as the sample procedure for respondents that cut across 23 LGAs in Rivers State. The questionnaire served as the instrument for data collection. Findings showed that the residents of Rivers State perceived godfatherism as an aberration of democratic values. The residents perceived the extent of interference of godfatherism in the governance of Rivers State as exceedingly high. They agreed that credible electoral systems and citizens’ full participation in governance process will to a large extent discourage the emergence of powerful few as godfathers. The researchers recommended that the process of electing a successor during internal primary election of a political party should

keywords:

Rivers State residents, Perception, Political godfatherism, Interference, Governance.

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References:

Abdullahi, A. & Sakariyau, R. T. (2013). Democracy and politics of godfatherism in Nigeria: The
effects and way forward. International Journal of Politics and Good Governance, 4(4.2),
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Abiola, A. G. & Olaopa, O. R. (2006). Economic development and democratic sustenance. In E.
O. Ojo (ed). Challenges of sustainable democracy in Nigeria. John Archers (Publishers)
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Arogbonlo, I. (2023, January 21). Top 10 States with the highest number of registered voters in
2023. Nigerian Tribune. https://tribuneonlineng.com/top-10-states-with-the-highest-
number-of-registered-voters-in-2023

Chukwu, I. (2022, June 3). Rivers politics is underlined by pay-as-you-go loyalty ~ Nwauju.
BusinessDay. https://businessday.ng/news/article/rivers-politics-is-underlined-by-pay-as-
you-go-loyalty-nwauju

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