A political support group backing former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, has rejected allegations that his reported interest in the 2027 Enugu State governorship election is motivated by a desire to obtain constitutional immunity from prosecution.

The group, known as G27, described the allegation as unfounded, insisting that Nnaji’s political ambition was driven by concerns about economic development, unemployment and industrial growth in the state.

In a statement issued in Enugu on Tuesday and signed by its spokesman, Chief James Ogbodo, the group maintained that the former minister’s political activities should be assessed on the basis of his proposed policies rather than speculation about his intentions.

“The allegation that Nnaji is seeking immunity is unfounded; his political ambition is driven by a desire to address economic challenges, unemployment and inadequate industrial development in Enugu State,” Ogbodo said in the statement.

According to the group, the debate ahead of the 2027 election should focus on candidates’ policies, records and capacity to govern rather than speculation about their motives.

It said Nnaji’s agenda included economic recovery, industrialisation, investment attraction and job creation, particularly for young people.

The controversy followed questions surrounding the educational qualifications submitted by Governor Peter Mbah to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2023 and 2027 governorship elections.

The group had questioned why Mbah allegedly submitted his West African Examinations Council (WAEC) certificate as his highest qualification for the 2027 election, whereas he presented a Law degree and a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate during the 2023 election.

It said the apparent difference in the qualifications submitted warranted clarification from the governor and the relevant institutions.

According to G27, Chief Uche Nnaji contested the 2023 election with the same basic academic credential he is presenting for the 2027 election.

“Before asking Chief Uche Nnaji why he chose to submit his WAEC certificate, Gov. Peter Mbah should explain why the qualification he presented to INEC in 2023 is different from the qualification he is presenting in 2027.

“Nnaji’s reliance on his WAEC certificate should not, in itself, be treated as evidence of wrongdoing, as WAEC remains a recognised qualification,” G27 said through Ogbodo.

G27 also recalled the controversy surrounding the authenticity of the NYSC document reportedly presented by Mbah, insisting that the matter should be addressed through appropriate legal and institutional channels.

The group maintained that scrutiny of candidates’ credentials was legitimate but should be based on verified facts and official records.

G27 said Nnaji’s decision to submit his WAEC certificate as his highest qualification should not, in itself, be interpreted as evidence of wrongdoing.

It argued that the certificate was a recognised academic qualification and that candidates should be assessed based on the credentials they presented to electoral authorities.

The group also disputed a publication suggesting that Nnaji had admitted never receiving his university degree certificate.

“The issue in Nnaji’s court action concerned the alleged failure of his university to release his academic transcript, rather than an admission that he had never received a degree certificate.

“A degree certificate and an academic transcript are separate academic records and I urge journalists to examine the relevant court documents before drawing conclusions.

“Nnaji approached the court to seek clarification on issues concerning his academic records and to protect his reputation.

“So, I urge media organisations to verify claims involving academic qualifications, court proceedings and official documents before publication,” the statement quoted Ogbodo as saying.

G27 further called for a fact-based political debate ahead of the 2027 governorship election, urging stakeholders to prioritise candidates’ policies, qualifications and capacity to deliver good governance.

“The election should provide an opportunity for voters to assess competing plans for the development of Enugu State rather than be dominated by personal attacks and unverified allegations.”