The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has included former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Geoffrey Nnaji, on its list of candidates for the 2027 Enugu State governorship election, despite allegations of certificate forgery that led to his resignation from the federal cabinet.
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Nnaji, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, ranks 13th on the final list the commission released on Saturday night.
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The list, signed by INEC Secretary Rose Oriaran-Anthony, indicates that Nnaji submitted his West African Examinations Council (WAEC) results but did not include the disputed degree certificate at the centre of the allegations against him.
His inclusion comes months after he stepped down as minister following an investigative report alleging that he presented forged academic and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificates to President Bola Tinubu and the Senate during his ministerial nomination process in 2023.
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The allegations triggered public scrutiny of his academic credentials and eventually led to his resignation from office.
Nnaji was reportedly arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, after arriving in Nigeria. He was subsequently handed over to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The former minister was later arraigned before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja over charges relating to certificate forgery, abuse of office and money laundering.
Nnaji pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail of N20 million, with one surety.
His appearance on INEC’s list places him among the candidates scheduled to contest the Enugu governorship election in 2027, while the legal proceedings concerning the allegations against him remain a separate matter.
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