2027: Amid certificate forgery scandal, INEC lists ex-minister Nnaji for Enugu guber poll

A former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Geoffrey Nnaji, has been cleared by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, as a candidate for the Enugu State governorship election in 2027.

Nnaji, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate, appears at number 13 on the list released by the commission on Saturday night.

The list, signed by INEC Secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, showed that Nnaji submitted his West African Examinations Council, WAEC, results without including the controversial degree certificate at the centre of allegations against him.

His inclusion on the list comes amid allegations of certificate forgery that led to his resignation as minister.

Recall that Nnaji had resigned following an investigative report by Premium Times alleging that he submitted forged academic and National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, certificate to President Bola Tinubu and the Senate during his ministerial nomination process in 2023.

The former minister was subsequently arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, upon his arrival in Nigeria.

He was reportedly apprehended by operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS, before being handed over to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC.

Nnaji was later arraigned before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja on charges bordering on certificate forgery, abuse of office and money laundering.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail in the sum of N20 million, with one surety.

2027: Amid certificate forgery scandal, INEC lists ex-minister Nnaji for Enugu guber poll