NEWS
INEC Lists Ex-Minister, Uche Nnaji as PDP Governorship Candidate for 2027 Enugu Election Amid Certificate Controversy
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has listed former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the 2027 Enugu State governorship election, months after a controversy over his academic qualifications led to his resignation from President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet.
Nnaji’s name appeared at number 13 on the list of governorship candidates released by INEC on Saturday night. The list, signed by the commission’s Secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, indicates that the former minister submitted his West African Examinations Council (WAEC) result among his academic credentials rather than the university degree certificate that had become the subject of intense public scrutiny.
His inclusion on the list places him in the contest to challenge incumbent Governor Peter Mbah in the 2027 governorship election, setting the stage for a politically significant contest in Enugu State.
However, Nnaji’s emergence as the PDP candidate comes against the backdrop of allegations concerning the authenticity of academic documents he previously presented during his ministerial nomination process in 2023.
An investigative report published by Premium Times alleged that Nnaji submitted forged academic and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificates to President Bola Tinubu and the Senate during the process that culminated in his appointment as a minister.
The controversy intensified after the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), reportedly disowned the degree certificate attributed to the institution. According to the investigation, the university acknowledged that Nnaji was admitted in 1981 but stated that he did not complete his studies and was never awarded a degree.
The report also cited a court affidavit in which Nnaji reportedly acknowledged that the university had not issued him a degree certificate and that he had “never collected one.”
The allegations triggered questions about the academic qualifications he presented during his ministerial screening and raised concerns about the circumstances surrounding his appointment to the Federal Executive Council.
In October 2025, Nnaji resigned from his position as Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology following the controversy, bringing his tenure in the cabinet to an end.
His appearance on INEC’s candidate list now introduces a new dimension to the controversy, as the former minister seeks an elective position in a state where questions about his academic credentials have remained a subject of public discussion.
Nnaji previously contested the Enugu governorship election in 2023 under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) but failed to secure victory. He subsequently defected to the PDP and emerged as the party’s candidate for the 2027 election.
His political journey from the APC to the PDP, coupled with the controversy surrounding his academic qualifications, is likely to attract considerable attention as preparations for the next governorship election gather momentum.
Meanwhile, the certificate controversy has also been accompanied by legal proceedings involving allegations of certificate forgery, abuse of office and money laundering.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) reportedly arrested Nnaji at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on July 1 following an investigation into the allegations. Reports indicated that the arrest came after the former minister allegedly failed to honour several invitations from the anti-corruption agency.
He was subsequently arraigned before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja on charges relating to certificate forgery, abuse of office and money laundering.
Nnaji pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail in the sum of ₦20 million, with one surety. The criminal allegations remain distinct from the electoral process, and the filing of charges does not in itself establish guilt. The outcome of the judicial proceedings could therefore remain an important part of the broader public debate surrounding his political future.
In May, Premium Times reported that concerns about a possible prosecution over the certificate controversy were among the factors allegedly influencing Nnaji’s decision to contest the governorship election. The publication cited sources in the Federal Ministries of Education, Science and Technology, as well as individuals described as political associates of the former minister, who claimed that he feared the investigation could jeopardise his political future.
According to the report, some of his associates believed that becoming governor could provide him with temporary protection from criminal proceedings because serving state governors enjoy constitutional immunity in respect of certain legal processes while in office.
One associate quoted in the report said Nnaji believed his future had become uncertain because of the controversy surrounding his academic qualifications.
“He (Mr Nnaji) feels that his future is uncertain with the certificate forgery scandal hanging on his neck. So he is thinking that if he becomes governor, at least for the first four years, he cannot be prosecuted because of the immunity he will enjoy,” the associate said.
The source further claimed that Nnaji could seek a second term to extend the period during which he would enjoy constitutional immunity.
“And he becomes governor and does everything to get his second term, so by eight years, all the people investigating him or prosecuting him will be out of power,” the associate added.
The claims about Nnaji’s alleged political calculations were attributed to sources cited by the publication and should not be treated as an independently established explanation for his decision to seek the governorship.
As the 2027 election approaches, Nnaji’s candidacy is expected to place renewed attention on the relationship between candidates’ academic qualifications, the verification of electoral credentials, ongoing legal proceedings and the standards of accountability expected of public officeholders.
For INEC, the publication of the candidate list marks a formal step in the electoral process. For Nnaji, it signals another attempt to secure the Enugu governorship after his unsuccessful 2023 bid, even as the controversy that preceded his departure from the federal cabinet continues to shape public discussion of his political comeback.