The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has allowed Uche Nnaji, a former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, to run for the 2027 governorship election in Enugu State.
Nnaji is currently facing a criminal trial for certificate forgery at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
He stepped down as minister on 7 October last year. This was just three days after PREMIUM TIMES published an investigation that showed he forged his University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) degree and NYSC certificates. He had submitted these documents to President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian Senate during his ministerial confirmation in 2023.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) started an investigation into the forgery allegations against Nnaji.
The ICPC invited Nnaji several times for questioning, but he did not respond. This led them to start a manhunt for him and eventually secure an arrest order.
On 1 July, the ICPC arrested him at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. He was coming back from Enugu on a chartered flight.
The commission then filed six charges against him for certificate forgery and money laundering at the Federal High Court.
Nnaji was first brought to court on 13 July, where he pleaded not guilty to the charges. He got bail set at N20 million.
He appeared in court again on 21 September, but the trial was postponed until 26 October.
Approved as PDP Candidate
In the final list of governorship candidates for the 2027 election, INEC listed Nnaji as the candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State.
He is 13th on the list released on Saturday, which was signed by the commission’s Secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony.
His spokesperson, Robert Ngwu, is also listed as his running mate. Ngwu was Nnaji’s running mate during his unsuccessful 2023 governorship attempt on the All Progressives Congress (APC) platform.
Issues with Certificates
Nnaji has denied forging his degree and NYSC certificate, despite strong evidence against him, as shown in the PREMIUM TIMES investigation.
In his INEC submission for the 2027 election, he did not include his disputed degree certificate. Instead, he presented his West African Examination Council (WAEC) certificate as proof of his education.
This choice raises serious questions about his claims of having a UNN degree.
Background on the Investigation
In October 2023, PREMIUM TIMES began looking into Nnaji’s academic background.
During his ministerial confirmation, he provided his degree and NYSC certificates to President Tinubu and the Nigerian Senate. He claimed to have graduated from UNN in 1985.
Feeling the pressure, Nnaji took legal action to stop UNN and its Vice-Chancellor, Simon Ortuanya, from releasing his academic records.
He also included the Minister of Education, the National Universities Commission, the university’s registrar, its former Acting Vice-Chancellor, Oguejiofo Ujam, and the University Senate as defendants in this suit.
But later, he sought an out-of-court settlement through his lawyers.
Before he could get a court order, Ortuanya had already responded to a PREMIUM TIMES Freedom of Information (FOI) request. He confirmed that Nnaji had indeed forged his UNN degree certificate.
The university registrar supported this claim, stating that while Nnaji was admitted in 1981, he never graduated or received a certificate.
The NYSC also disowned the discharge certificate that Nnaji presented, responding to a separate FOI request.
Nnaji resigned as minister three days after the investigation was published.
In March, PREMIUM TIMES reported that an investigative panel set up by the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, confirmed that Nnaji had forged his certificates.
Nnaji later switched from the ruling APC to the PDP. In late May, he became the governorship candidate for the PDP faction supported by Nyesom Wike for the 2027 elections.
Reports suggest that Nnaji is pursuing the governorship to gain immunity from prosecution.
In mid-June, a Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the ICPC to arrest Nnaji.
Despite claiming that the order did not exist, he appealed it on 18 June at the Court of Appeal in Abuja.
But the ICPC proceeded with his arrest.
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