Wike's PDP Faction Clears Ex-Minister Uche Nnaji for Governorship Despite Certificate Forgery Scandal

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has cleared the immediate past Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, to contest in the PDP's governorship primary election in Enugu State ahead of the state's 2027 governorship election. This decision has raised eyebrows given the certificate forgery scandal surrounding Mr Nnaji. It's worth saying that Nnaji's clearance is a controversial move.

Uche Nnaji's clearance by the PDP faction's governorship screening committee, which was chaired by Ahmed Makarfi, a former governor of Kaduna State and former chairperson of the party, has sparked controversy. The committee also screened and cleared a renowned entrepreneur, Samsom Nnamani, to take part in the PDP forthcoming governorship primary election. They're expected to face other contenders in the primary.

The certificate forgery scandal involving Mr Nnaji began to unravel in October 2023 when PREMIUM TIMES started investigating his academic records. Mr Nnaji had submitted a degree and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificates to President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian Senate during his ministerial confirmation in 2023. However, a painstaking two-year investigation published by PREMIUM TIMES in October 2025 uncovered how the then-minister forged his degree and NYSC certificates. The investigation didn't pull any punches.

The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), where Mr Nnaji claimed to have graduated, confirmed through its vice-chancellor, Simon Ortuanya, that Mr Nnaji had forged his UNN degree certificate. The UNN registrar corroborated this, stating that although Mr Nnaji was admitted to the university in 1981, he neither graduated nor received any certificate. NYSC authorities also disowned the discharge certificate in possession of the then-minister. They can't verify its authenticity.

Mr Nnaji resigned from his position as minister three days after the investigation exposing his forged certificates was published. Despite this, he's been cleared by the PDP faction to contest the governorship primary election in Enugu State. This decision has been criticized by a civil society organisation, Defence for Democracy, which argues that the PDP may jeopardise its chances in the Enugu governorship election by clearing Mr Nnaji to contest its primaries. They don't think it's a good idea.

The people of Enugu State deserve leaders whose records can withstand public scrutiny without fear or controversy, said Emeka Nwachukwu, National President of Defence for Democracy. He's concerned about the implications of Nnaji's clearance.

The organisation has suggested that Mr Nnaji's ambition raises questions about integrity and public trust in leadership, stressing that leadership must be built on trust, integrity, and credibility. It's argued that you can't have one without the other. They've called on the former minister to clear his name before pursuing his governorship ambition and have urged the national leadership of the PDP to intervene and save the party from embarrassment. They won't let it slide.

The PDP faction's decision to clear Mr Nnaji has also been met with criticism from legal practitioners, with one practitioner, Liborous Oshoma, criticising the Nigerian government for failing to prosecute Mr Nnaji over the certificate forgery scandal. Mr Oshoma maintained that people like the former minister should be prosecuted and banned from holding public office to serve as a deterrent to others. He believes it's necessary to prevent similar cases.

As the PDP prepares for its governorship primary election in Enugu State, the clearance of Mr Nnaji has raised concerns about the party's commitment to integrity and transparency. The party's decision to clear a candidate with a certificate forgery scandal hanging over his head has sparked debate about the implications for the party's chances in the election and the impact on the people of Enugu State. It's a complex issue that won't go away soon.

The situation in Enugu State is complex, with various factions and interests at play. As the governorship election approaches, the clearance of Mr Nnaji has added another layer of complexity to the political landscape. The people of Enugu State will be watching closely as the situation unfolds. They're eager to see what happens next.

The clearance of Mr Nnaji has raised concerns about the party's commitment to integrity and transparency. It's a significant issue that won't be ignored. The implications of the decision will likely be felt for some time to come. They can't be overstated.

In the context of Nigerian politics, the clearance of Mr Nnaji by the PDP faction is not an isolated incident. There have been several cases of certificate forgery and other forms of misconduct involving public officials in Nigeria. The country has a long history of corruption and impunity. It's a serious problem that needs to be addressed.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has begun an investigation into Mr Nnaji's forgery scandal. The commission's findings will be closely watched. Any decision to prosecute Mr Nnaji will have significant implications for the former minister and the PDP faction. They're waiting to see what happens.

As the investigation continues, the people of Enugu State will be waiting to see how the situation unfolds. The clearance of Mr Nnaji by the PDP faction has raised more questions than answers. The implications of the decision will likely be felt for some time to come. It's a waiting game.

The Nigerian government has been criticised for its handling of corruption cases. The clearance of Mr Nnaji has raised concerns about the government's commitment to integrity and transparency. The situation in Enugu State is a microcosm of the larger issues facing Nigeria. The outcome of the governorship election will be closely watched by Nigerians and international observers alike. They're all watching.

The clearance of Uche Nnaji by the PDP faction has raised significant concerns about the party's commitment to integrity and transparency. The implications of the decision will be felt for some time to come. The people of Enugu State will be watching closely as the situation unfolds. They won't forget it. The party's decision will have a lasting impact on the state's politics. It's a fact that can't be denied.