By Adesina Soyooye
Geoffrey Nnaji, a former Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, who was forced to resign from office over allegations of certificate forgery, has been cleared by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to contest in the 2027 governorship election in Enugu State.
He will run under the banner of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Recall that Nnaji allegedly submitted forged academic and NYSC certificates to President Bola Tinubu and the Senate during his ministerial nomination screening in 2023.
The University of Nigeria Nsukka, UNN, where he claimed to have graduated from, disowned the degree certificate submitted by him. It affirmed that he was admitted in 1981 but did not complete his studies, and so, was awarded no degree.
But all that notwithstanding, Nnaji’s name appeared on the list cleared by INEC. He is number 13 on the list released by the Commission Saturday.
In the list signed by INEC’s Secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, Nnaji avoided the controversial degree and NYSC certificate, and tendered only his West African Examination Certificate, WAEC.
The former Minister was arrested by the Independent Corrupt Practises and other offences related Commission (ICPC) on July 1, 2026.
Arraigned before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja, for certificate forgery, abuse of office and money laundering, Nnaji pleaded not guilty to all the charges. The Court granted him bail in the sum of N20 million with one surety.
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