Ex-Minister Involved in Certificate Scandal Makes INEC List, Puts Forward WAEC Result

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has listed Geoffrey Nnaji, the former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the 2027 Enugu State governorship election, with the politician presenting his West African Examination Council (WAEC) result instead of the university degree certificate that was at the centre of a controversy that led to his resignation.

Nnaji’s name appeared at number 13 on the list of governorship candidates released by INEC on Saturday night.

The list, signed by the secretary of the commission, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, shows that the former minister submitted his WAEC result among his academic credentials.

His appearance on the list comes months after an investigative report alleged 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 controversy eventually led to his resignation from the Federal Executive Council in October 2025.

The Premium Times investigation reported that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), disowned the degree certificate attributed to the institution and stated that although Nnaji was admitted in 1981, he did not complete his studies and was never awarded a degree.

The report also cited a court affidavit in which Nnaji reportedly admitted that the university had not issued him a degree certificate and that he had “never collected one.”

The allegations raised questions about the academic qualifications he presented during his ministerial screening and subsequent appointment.

However, INEC’s inclusion of Nnaji on its list of candidates confirms that the politician is set to challenge Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah in the 2027 election.

Nnaji, who previously contested the governorship election in 2023 under the All Progressives Congress (APC) but was unsuccessful, later defected to the PDP and emerged as the party’s candidate for the next election.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had arrested Nnaji at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on July 1.

According to reports, the arrest followed several invitations from the anti-corruption agency that the former minister allegedly failed to honour.

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 N20 million, with one surety.

In May, Premium Times reported that concerns about possible prosecution over the certificate controversy were among the factors motivating Nnaji’s decision to contest the governorship election.

The publication cited sources in the Federal Ministries of Education, Science and Technology, as well 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 offer him protection from criminal proceedings during his time in office under the constitutional immunity available to serving state governors.

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.

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