Political Leprosy and Godfatherism: How Media Shape Party Loyalty and Political Survival in Nigeria

Abstract

The research paper "Political Leprosy and Godfatherism: How Media Shapes Party Loyalty and Political Survival in Nigeria" examines the pervasive influence of godfatherism in Nigerian politics, where democratic principles are often circumvented to benefit political elites. It highlights how political financiers and power brokers dominate electoral processes and governance, thereby trivialising party supremacy and promoting personal interests over the public good. Godfatherism remains a significant issue in Nigeria’s political landscape, with profound implications for democratic development and the imposition of leaders by influential elites. The study analysed the role of the media in shaping political narratives and party loyalty, with particular focus on media framing strategies. The findings emphasised the need for political leaders to prioritise fairness, transparency, equity, equal rights, and the welfare of citizens to strengthen good governance. The study anchored its theoretical framework on Agenda-Setting Theory and Selectorate Theory in explaining the media’s role in shaping party loyalty and political survival in Nigeria. It concluded that political leprosy and godfatherism are amplified through media constructions and representations. The media’s influence in giving prominence to salient issues generates hyperreality and diversionary perceptions among audiences, thereby fostering a politically convoluted environment. The study therefore recommended that for genuine democratic representation and sustainable political survival in Nigeria, party loyalty should be grounded in fairness, equity, and equal rights, which form the foundation of a stable and sustainable political culture.