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.
Nnaji’s name appeared at number 13 on the list of governorship candidates released by the commission on Saturday night .
According to the list signed by Rose Oriaran-Anthony, INEC Secretary, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate omitted the controversial degree and tendered his West African Examinations Council (WAEC) results instead .
Nnaji had resigned amid a Premium Times investigative report which 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 report claimed that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) disowned the degree certificate submitted by Nnaji, stating that although he was admitted in 1981, he did not complete his studies and was never awarded a degree.
The investigation also revealed that in a court affidavit, Nnaji admitted that the university never issued him a degree certificate and that he had “never collected one.”
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had arrested Nnaji at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on July 1, 2026.
According to the Commission, the arrest followed multiple invitations that were not honoured by the politician .
He was later arraigned before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja, for certificate forgery, abuse of office and money laundering.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail in the sum of ₦20 million with one surety.
Nnaji previously contested the 2023 governorship election in Enugu State under the All Progressives Congress (APC) but was unsuccessful.
He later defected to the PDP and emerged as the party’s candidate for the next election .
His appearance on INEC’s list places him in the race to challenge the incumbent governor, Peter Mbah, in the 2027 election .
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