Recently Sacked Nigerian Minister Over Certificate Irregularities Cleared To Become Imo Governor

OpenLife News reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cleared Geoffrey Nnaji, former Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology who was recently sacked over alleged certificate forgery, to contest the 2027 governorship election in Imo State.

Nnaji’s clearance is contained in the provisional list of governorship candidates released by the Commission on Saturday night.

He had resigned from President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet following a Premium Times investigative report which alleged that he submitted forged academic and NYSC certificates during his ministerial nomination and screening 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 further revealed that in a court affidavit, Nnaji admitted that the university never issued him a degree certificate and that he had “never collected one.”

His name is number 13 on the list signed by the INEC Secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony.

According to details from the list, the former minister, who is contesting on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), omitted the controversial university degree from his credentials and tendered only his WAEC result for the screening.

Recall that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had arrested Nnaji at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on July 1, 2026, after he allegedly failed to honour multiple invitations.

He was later arraigned before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on charges bordering on certificate forgery, abuse of office and money laundering.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail in the sum of N20 million with one surety in like sum.