The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for keeping Uche Nnaji, the Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, in his cabinet despite serious allegations of certificate forgery hanging over his head.
In a strongly worded statement released on Monday and signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said it is not surprised by the president’s silence on the issue, adding that it reflects the administration’s comfort with corruption and lack of concern for integrity.
“Despite mounting evidence and public outrage, Mr. Uche Nnaji remains in office after admitting that the certificates he presented were not issued by the relevant institutions and may have been forged,” the statement read.
According to the ADC, credible reports have confirmed that both the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) have officially disowned the academic and service documents submitted by Nnaji for his ministerial appointment. The party also noted that court documents reportedly filed by Nnaji himself confirm that UNN did not issue him a degree certificate.
The ADC said the issue was not just about one man, but a reflection of a broader trend in the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government. The party accused the ruling party of being “comfortable with deceit” and consistently ignoring basic ethical standards.
“This is not an isolated case,” the party said. “The APC government has a long and well-known history of certificate scandals and questionable academic claims among its top officials. These repeated controversies show that the party is comfortable with deceit and completely unconcerned about basic ethical standards.”
The ADC pointed out that the continued presence of Nnaji in a sensitive ministry such as Science, Technology and Innovation a ministry that should be driven by competence and research-based leadership is damaging to Nigeria’s credibility both locally and internationally.
The party questioned why the minister had not resigned or been suspended pending an investigation.
“The question every Nigerian is asking is simple: if the minister is not honourable enough to resign, why is the Tinubu government still keeping him in office?” the statement asked.
The ADC added that the administration’s failure to act not only casts doubt on its anti-corruption claims but also sends the wrong message to Nigerians and the international community.
“This is clear proof that integrity and accountability have no place in this APC-led government,” the party said.
The ADC called on President Tinubu to suspend the minister immediately and initiate an independent investigation into the forgery allegations. The party also said that if found guilty, Nnaji should not only be removed from office but also face criminal prosecution for forgery and perjury.
“Certificate forgery is not a clerical error. It is a crime,” the ADC stressed. “If proven, it must attract the full weight of the law. The longer the Tinubu government delays action, the clearer it becomes that integrity and accountability have no place in its leadership consideration.”
The ADC didn’t stop at the presidency. It also criticised the Senate and the Department of State Services (DSS) for their roles in the appointment process. The party said the failure of these bodies to detect the discrepancies in Nnaji’s documents shows a serious flaw in the screening process for political appointees.
According to the statement, these lapses weaken public trust and further damage the credibility of institutions meant to safeguard democracy and governance.
Uche Nnaji, a former governorship candidate in Enugu State under the APC and currently serving as Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, has come under fire in recent weeks after reports emerged alleging that the academic qualifications and NYSC certificate he submitted for vetting were not authentic.
While the minister is yet to publicly address the growing scandal in detail, reports indicate that both the UNN and NYSC have denied issuing him the certificates he presented. Court filings also reportedly support these claims.
So far, there has been no official response from the presidency or the APC regarding the matter.
