The Grip of Godfathers: How Political Puppeteers Hijacked Nigeria’s 2023 Elections

By George Omagbemi Sylvester

In any genuine democracy, power flows from the people to their leaders. But in Nigeria, especially in the 2023 general elections, this democratic ideal was once again hijacked by an entrenched system of political godfatherism—an unholy alliance of oligarchs, kingmakers, and shadowy puppeteers who wield immense influence over who gets elected and who gets crushed. The result is a democracy disfigured by greed, betrayal, and manipulation.

The Anatomy of Godfatherism in Nigeria
Godfatherism in Nigerian politics is not new. Since the return to democracy in 1999, it has played a dominant role in shaping the political landscape. Godfathers are wealthy political elites—often former governors, military officers, or businessmen—who sponsor candidates into power in exchange for loyalty, contracts, and control of state resources. As Professor Attahiru Jega, former INEC chairman, once noted, “Nigeria’s elections are not necessarily won by popularity or competence but by who controls the political machinery” (Jega, 2022).

The 2023 elections were a glaring manifestation of this disease. Across the country, from Lagos to Kano, Rivers to Delta, godfathers imposed candidates, manipulated primaries, and dictated outcomes with impunity. It wasn’t about manifestos or merit; it was about loyalty to the political mafia.

Lagos: The Jagaban Effect
Nowhere was godfatherism more pronounced than in Lagos State. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the self-acclaimed “Jagaban of Borgu” and national leader of the APC, has maintained a vice-like grip on Lagos politics since 1999 (TheCable, 2023). In 2023, he ascended to the presidency not by a groundswell of popular support but by orchestrating a brutal, well-funded political machine that bulldozed its way through party primaries and general elections.

Despite throwing the full weight of his influence behind the APC candidate for governor, the Labour Party made historic gains in Lagos, defeating APC in the presidential vote within Tinubu’s stronghold (INEC Official Results, 2023). Yet, voter suppression, intimidation, and ethnic incitement marred the subsequent gubernatorial polls—underscoring how far godfathers will go to maintain control (Amnesty International, 2023).

As Chinua Achebe once warned, “The trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership” (Achebe, 1983). That leadership failure is deeply tied to the stranglehold of political godfathers who prioritize personal gain over national progress.

Northern Nigeria: The Invisible Hands
In the North, political godfatherism took a more insidious form. Former military generals and entrenched politicians, particularly those from Buhari’s camp, played strategic roles in determining party tickets and political deals. The G5 governors’ rebellion in PDP—led by Wike, Ortom, Makinde, Ugwuanyi, and Ikpeazu—was itself a godfatherist power play aimed at disrupting national party consensus (Vanguard, 2023).

In Rivers State, Governor Nyesom Wike turned the state into a battleground of interests, publicly undermining his own party while negotiating backdoor deals with APC. The resulting electoral confusion led to disputed results and a fractured political environment (Premium Times, 2023).

The Electoral Betrayal of the Masses
INEC’s failure to transmit election results electronically despite promising to do so under the 2022 Electoral Act was a monumental betrayal. The Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), hailed as a game-changer, was abandoned during collation, opening the door to rigging (European Union Election Observation Mission, 2023).

The “Obidient” movement, powered by youth disillusionment and the candidacy of Peter Obi, gave millions of Nigerians hope. But that hope was crushed not just by INEC’s failure but by the deeply entrenched political oligarchs who feared losing power to the people.

As political scientist Robert Michels observed in his “Iron Law of Oligarchy,” “Who says organization, says oligarchy.” Nigerian parties, structured around godfathers, operate not as democratic institutions but as authoritarian vehicles of personal ambition.

The Tragedy of Compromise and Silence
Most tragic is the normalization of this dysfunction. Religious leaders, traditional rulers, and even the judiciary have often chosen silence or convenient neutrality. But as Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka rightly declared, “The man dies in all who keep silent in the face of tyranny” (Soyinka, 1972). In 2023, silence was louder than outrage.

President Muhammadu Buhari’s hands-off approach to post-election violence and widespread irregularities further eroded public confidence. Despite pledging to leave a legacy of free and fair elections, Buhari’s silence on INEC’s failures and his party’s abuses was deafening.

The Cost of Godfatherism
The cost of godfatherism is not just political—it is economic and social. It kills initiative, breeds incompetence, and facilitates corruption. When leaders are beholden to patrons, they have little incentive to serve the people.

The World Bank reports that Nigeria has lost over $400 billion to corruption since independence (World Bank, 2022). A significant portion of this is tied to godfather networks and political patronage. State capture, contract fraud, inflated budgets, and ghost projects are the legacy of politicians who serve their funders, not their constituents.

A Way Forward: Breaking the Chains
To dismantle the system of godfatherism, Nigeria must reform its institutions. INEC must be truly independent, immune from executive or legislative interference. Political party financing should be transparent and audited. Civil society must hold leaders accountable, and the media must stop being megaphones for political propaganda.

Political parties should internalize democracy—allowing primaries to be decided by merit, not by money or manipulation. As Nelson Mandela once said, “A critical, independent and investigative press is the lifeblood of any democracy” (Mandela, 1994). The Nigerian media must rise to this responsibility.

Voter education is essential. Citizens must understand their power and refuse to sell their votes. The success of the “Not Too Young To Run” Act and the rise of youth-led political activism in 2023 prove that the tide can turn—but only with sustained resistance.

Conclusion: A Call to Reclaim Democracy
Nigeria cannot move forward while her politics remains in the chokehold of godfathers. The 2023 elections should not just be remembered as a contest of candidates but as a referendum on whether Nigerians are truly free to choose their leaders.

As Dora Akunyili once said, “We must fight for the soul of our nation.” That fight must be waged at the ballot box, in the courts, on the streets, and in our hearts. The era of godfatherism must end—for democracy, development, and dignity to thrive in Nigeria.

_Sylvester is a prolific writer and political analyst; He writes from Johannesburg._

Speaker Obasa Calls for Unity as Court Declares Removal Illegal, Unconstitutional

Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. (Dr) Mudashiru Obasa has described the Lagos State High Court ruling, which declared his removal in January, “Illegal, unconstitutional, and null and void,” as a win for the Assembly as an institution.

“This is a victory for the Lagos House of Assembly as an institution and for our current and future members,” Obasa said in a statement by his media office.

He added that the court decision “reinforces the desire for us as members of the House to move ahead in unity and harmony and continue to work for the good of our people, our beloved Lagos State, and Nigeria.”

Speaker Obasa urged his colleagues to let bygones be bygones and continue working together in peace, harmony, and unity.

Justice Yetunde Pinheiro of the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja on Wednesday declared Obasa’s removal while on an official assignment to the United States of America in January as illegal, unconstitutional, and null and void.
Instructively, the court also nullified the proceedings and resolutions of the Assembly held on January 13, 2025, during which Obasa was ousted from office.

Obasa had filed a suit on February 12, 2025, through his counsel, Chief Afolabi Fashanu (SAN), challenging his removal because it was effected while the Assembly was on recess and he was outside the country. Obasa further argued that the House session during which he was removed was unlawfully convened and lacked proper authority or any formal delegation of power from the Speaker’s office. He named the House of Assembly and the Deputy Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, as defendants.

Obasa’s legal challenge was anchored on nine grounds, relying on provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Rules and Standing Orders of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

The court’s ruling effectively renders null and void all decisions taken during the January 13 session.

Just in: China Erases Nigeria:
A Diplomatic Earthquake or a Wake-Up Call?

By George Omagbemi Sylvester

Introduction: A Shocking Move from Beijing
In a move that has stunned the international community, the People’s Republic of China has taken an audacious and provocative diplomatic step:

Removed Nigeria from its official land map

Deactivated Nigerian presence on Chinese apps like WeChat and Weibo

Shut down the Nigerian Embassy in Beijing

Recalled its ambassador from Abuja

These actions are not just a geopolitical insult, they are a direct challenge to the legitimacy of Nigeria as a sovereign state.

Beijing’s Provocation: “Nigeria Has Expired”
According to the Chinese Foreign Affairs Ministry, Nigeria was a colonial construct designed to exist for only 100 years, referencing the 1914 British amalgamation of the northern and southern protectorates. Their chilling statement read:

“Nigeria’s continued existence has no historical or legal foundation. It is an expired project being manipulated by a corrupt elite.”

This unprecedented dismissal of a country’s legitimacy by a major power is deeply disturbing and diplomatically irresponsible.

Sovereignty Under Threat: A Dangerous Precedent
China’s actions violate several principles of international law, including:

The United Nations Charter (Article 2): Respect for the sovereignty of all member states

The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961)

The African Union Constitutive Act (2000)

This move sends a dangerous message: that powerful nations can now erase weaker states based on selective historical interpretations.

Hypocrisy at Its Peak: China’s Double Standards
Beijing’s stance reeks of hypocrisy. China is itself a union of vastly different regions and ethnic groups:

Tibet and Xinjiang are held through military suppression.

Hong Kong is governed under the contentious “One Country, Two Systems.”

Taiwan, which China claims, is a fully functioning democratic entity.

How does a country that brutally suppresses secessionist sentiments now justify dismantling Nigeria for the same reasons it opposes in its own territories?

A Wake-Up Call for Nigeria’s Leadership
As painful as this is, Nigeria must reflect on why such an insult was possible in the first place. Over the last decade, the country has deteriorated in almost every global index:

Key Statistics (2015–2024):
Unemployment: Rose from 9.9% in 2015 to over 33.3% in 2023 (NBS)

Poverty: Over 133 million Nigerians live in multidimensional poverty (NBS, 2022)

Exchange rate: Naira devalued from ₦199/$1 in 2015 to over ₦1,600/$1 in 2024

Minimum wage: ₦30,000 ($18 monthly equivalent), yet unpaid in over 20 states

Debt to China: Over $4 billion owed, much of it collateralized (DMO, 2023)

Terrorism: Boko Haram, banditry, and IPOB violence still unchecked

China’s declaration may be diplomatically outrageous, but it exposes a fundamental truth: Nigeria has failed to act as a nation-state.

Weaponized Economics: China’s Neo-Colonial Grip China’s economic involvement in Africa has long raised concerns about debt diplomacy and economic colonization. Nigeria, like many African states, fell into Beijing’s web:

Railway projects: Over $2.5 billion funded by Chinese banks

Airport terminals: Chinese-built and financed with opaque terms

Sovereignty clauses: Some loan agreements allegedly waive immunity over critical assets in disputes

If China halts funding or demands repayments, Nigeria’s fragile economy could face collapse.

African Solidarity Needed Now
The silence from African governments has been deafening. If Nigeria, the largest economy and most populous country in Africa, can be humiliated this way, then no African state is safe.

The African Union must:
Convene an emergency summit

Demand a full apology and diplomatic reversal from China

Consider sanctions or diplomatic retaliations if China persists

This is not just a Nigerian issue, it is an African existential crisis.

The Deafening Silence of the West
Western nations, typically vocal about human rights and sovereignty, have responded with vague platitudes. The UK—Nigeria’s former colonizer has said nothing meaningful. The US State Department simply urged “calm.”

This lack of global outcry reflects how far Nigeria has fallen in international relevance. A once-powerful voice in the Non-Aligned Movement, a key peacekeeping contributor, and regional stabilizer is now seen as a failed state.

The Identity Crisis: Who Is a Nigerian?

Beijing’s criticism touches a nerve: Nigeria’s identity crisis.

Over 250 ethnic groups

Three major religions with deep divisions.

Electoral politics driven by tribalism and zoning, not competence.

Secessionist agitations in the South East (IPOB), South West (Yoruba Nation), and Niger Delta

More than a century after amalgamation, there is still no unifying national vision. If China’s insult triggers a much-needed national debate, it could be a blessing in disguise.

From Humiliation to Rebirth
China’s erasure of Nigeria from its map and communication networks is outrageous, unlawful, and racist. But it is also a moment of reckoning.

*Nigeria must now:*

Reclaim its dignity through good governance

Rebuild national unity with a people-first constitution

Diversify its economy to reduce dependence on exploitative powers

Assert itself diplomatically as Africa’s true leader

This is not the end, it could be the beginning of Nigeria’s long-overdue transformation.