Minister Who Resigned Over Certificate Scandal Emerges PDP Guber Candidate

A former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, has emerged the Governorship Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State.

Nnaji polled 7,424 votes to defeat Mr Samson Nnamani, who trailed far behind with 600 votes, in a primary election held in Enugu, on Monday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the exercise was conducted by the Chairman of the State Gubernatorial Committee of PDP, Mr Austin Nwachukwu.

In an acceptance speech, Nnaji thanked the party members for entrusting him with the mandate, and promised not to take it for granted.

He pledged that his administration would lessen the sufferings of Enugu State residents “by ensuring that they are not overburdened under the guise of taxes”.

“I give this victory to the glory of God and our Enugu people, who have been oppressed in the last three years and being overburdened with excessive, obnoxious taxes.

“Landlords are paying through their nose, hoteliers are crying, commercial motorcyclists (okada riders) are out of existence, even people hawking water pay tax.

“These are the people that we should be giving money. Government should make provision to pay money to the less-privileged.

“And that is the fulcrum of this struggle. The struggle to recover Enugu State, the struggle to rebuild Enugu State and the struggle to industrialise Enugu State, so that we will arrest youth restiveness.

“We will build industries to give our people jobs. Jim Nwobodo was the only governor in this state that built industries,” the former minister said.

He said that the alleged misappropriation of the industries was unacceptable to him.

He promised to improve the living conditions of Enugu residents within four years, saying that he would only serve one term in office, if elected.

Earlier, the chairman of the committee commended the party faithful for conducting themselves in an orderly manner before, during and after the election.

“The result is a proof that PDP is not only waxing strong but is positioned to win election in Enugu State in 2027,” Nwachukwu said.

Daily Trust reports that two years into the administration of President Bola Tinubu, Nnaji was forced to step down over alleged certificate forgery.

In an investigation, PREMIUM TIMES uncovered how the then-minister allegedly forged his degree and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificates, which he submitted to President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian Senate during his ministerial confirmation.
(Daily trust)