THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cleared Geoffrey Nnaji, former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, to contest the 2027 governorship election in Enugu State.
News Point Nigeria reports that Nnaji’s inclusion on the list of governorship candidates comes amid controversy surrounding allegations that he submitted forged academic and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificates to President Bola Tinubu and the Senate during his ministerial nomination process in 2023. The former minister resigned following an investigative report by Premium Times that raised questions about the authenticity of his credentials.
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The report claimed that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), disowned the degree certificate allegedly submitted by Nnaji, stating that although he was admitted into the institution in 1981, he did not complete his studies and was never awarded a degree.
The investigation also revealed that Nnaji admitted in a court affidavit that the university never issued him a degree certificate and that he had “never collected one.”
Nnaji’s name appears as number 13 on the list of governorship candidates released by INEC on Saturday night.
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According to the list, signed by Rose Oriaran-Anthony, the INEC Secretary, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate did not submit the controversial degree certificate but instead tendered his West African Examinations Council (WAEC) results.
Meanwhile, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) arrested Nnaji at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on July 1, 2026.
According to the commission, the arrest followed multiple invitations extended to the politician, which he allegedly failed to honour.
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He was subsequently arraigned before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja on charges bordering on certificate forgery, abuse of office and money laundering.
Nnaji pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail in the sum of N20 million, with one surety.
