Nigeria, Oct. 12 -- The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cleared a former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, to contest the 2027 governorship election in Enugu State.

Mr Nnaji faces a criminal trial over certificate forgery at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

He resigned as minister on 7 October last year, three days after PREMIUM TIMES published an investigation revealing that the then-minister forged his University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) degree and NYSC certificates, which he submitted to President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian Senate during his ministerial confirmation in 2023.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) later launched an investigation ...