A civil society organization, The Defence for Democracy, has voiced strong opposition to the People's Democratic Party (PDP) for clearing former Minister of Science and Technology, Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, to contest the party's primaries for the upcoming governorship elections in Enugu State. This decision comes despite ongoing investigations into allegations of forged credentials against Nnaji.
Nnaji resigned from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's cabinet following accusations of forgery and is currently under scrutiny by relevant authorities. In a statement released by the National President of the organization, Dr. Emeka Nwachukwu, and made available to journalists, the group questioned the integrity of the screening process and accused the PDP of inadvertently aiding the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The organization warned that if Nnaji were to win the primaries and subsequent elections, the APC would have sufficient grounds to expedite the forgery case, potentially overturning any victory. The group emphasized that leadership must be founded on trust, integrity, and credibility, and that the people of Enugu deserve leaders whose records can withstand public scrutiny.
While acknowledging that the allegations have not yet been proven in court, the organization stressed that the PDP has a moral responsibility to raise concerns about Nnaji. They argued that if he wins, an accelerated hearing could hand victory to the APC.
“We believe firmly that Enugu deserves honest leadership, grassroots connection, and a leader who understands the pains of the people, and there are many such people,” the statement read. The group noted that their findings have identified individuals of impeccable character who represent a great future for the state.
The organization called on Nnaji to clear his name before pursuing his political ambitions, stating that the allegations and public reports surrounding his academic credentials are too weighty to be ignored. They also urged the PDP National Secretariat to intervene immediately to save the party from embarrassment.
“We are watching events in Enugu and other parts of the country, and we would have issued this statement to congratulate the Enugu state chapter of the party if it screened out the former minister, because there is a moral burden there which is far beyond what the courts might eventually pronounce,” the group concluded.
