A former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, has emerged as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Enugu State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Nnaji secured 7,424 votes to defeat his rival, Mr Samson Nnamani, who polled 600 votes during the party’s primary election held on Monday in Enugu.
The exercise was conducted by the Chairman of the State Gubernatorial Committee of the PDP, Mr Austin Nwachukwu.
Speaking after the announcement of the results, Nnaji thanked party members for electing him as the party’s flag bearer, promising not to disappoint them.
“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,” he said.
The former minister alleged that residents of the state were facing multiple taxation under the current administration.
“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,” he stated.
Nnaji added that his administration would focus on rebuilding and industrialising the state if elected governor.
“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,” he said.
He described the alleged misappropriation of industries in the state as unacceptable and pledged to improve the living conditions of residents within four years.
Nnaji also declared that he would serve only one term if elected governor.
Earlier, the chairman of the committee, Austin Nwachukwu, commended party members for the peaceful conduct of the exercise.
“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.
Recall that Nnaji resigned as minister two years into the administration of President Bola Tinubu over allegations bordering on certificate forgery.
An investigation by PREMIUM TIMES had alleged that the former minister submitted forged degree and National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, certificates during his ministerial screening and confirmation process.
