By Chukwunonye Okereke
In Enugu’s political landscape, a storm is brewing—one that reveals the desperate underbelly of power, rivalry, and survival. At the centre of it all stands Governor Peter Mbah, whose alleged orchestration of the Uche Nnaji certificate scandal has become a defining symbol of political desperation ahead of the 2027 elections.
While the headlines scream about a certificate forgery saga, the deeper story is not about education or paperwork—it’s about power, control, and the systematic dismantling of anyone who threatens Mbah’s continued dominance.
The certificate scandal involving Chief Uche Nnaji, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, erupted like a bombshell. The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) suddenly announced that it could not trace Nnaji’s graduation record, contradicting earlier documentation issued by its own registrar in December 2023 that confirmed his 1985 graduation. That single reversal ignited a political firestorm. For Nnaji, it was a betrayal. The contradictions in the university’s statements—first confirming, then denying Nnaji’s credentials—suggested not merely administrative confusion but deliberate manipulation. To Nnaji’s supporters, it was clear—this was no coincidence. It was a calculated ambush designed to humiliate a rival and politically cripple him ahead of the 2027 race.
Governor Peter Mbah has shown the face of a man unwilling to gamble with political uncertainty. Having fought tooth and nail through his own legal controversies over his NYSC discharge certificate in 2023, Mbah understands the power of a certificate scandal—it can destroy credibility overnight. Nnaji’s growing influence in Enugu state—his firm grip within APC circles, his closeness to the federal establishment, and his reputation as a disciplined businessman-politician—represents a direct threat to Mbah’s second-term ambitions. Seeing Nnaji as a potential kingpin in the 2027 equation, neutralising him early became both a political strategy and a survival instinct. The certificate scandal, therefore, was not just convenient—it was perfect.
Behind the veneer of legality lies a climate of intimidation. Nnaji’s legal team has accused the UNN management of bias and harassment, noting how the vice-chancellor bypassed the usual university senate process to issue public letters declaring Nnaji’s certificate “fake.” In Enugu, whispers abound that several academics were summoned or questioned for their earlier cooperation with Nnaji’s verification requests. The message was clear: loyalty to the wrong person comes at a cost.
To understand why the governor allegedly went to such lengths, one must see the larger chessboard. Nnaji represents a powerful alternative voice in Enugu politics—a politician with clean business credentials and strong Abuja connections. His influence within the APC threatens Mbah’s plans to dominate the state’s political future, particularly if Mbah decides to switch alliances or seek relevance beyond PDP structures.
Moreover, Nnaji’s open belief in judicial fairness—especially his ongoing legal battle against UNN and his vocal defence of institutional integrity—contradicts the climate of political patronage Mbah thrives on. Now, with 2027 looming, the governor’s desperation has intensified. Every perceived obstacle must be silenced, every rival disarmed, every narrative controlled. By turning the Nnaji saga into a public and media trial, two goals are achieved: he discredits a rival while distracting Enugu people from growing discontent over governance, rising debt, excessive taxation, and allegations of corruption.
The 2027 elections will determine not only Mbah’s political future but also the ideological soul of Enugu politics. Will power continue to be built on fear and manipulation, or will integrity and truth reclaim their place? The public increasingly views the scandal as an orchestrated political persecution rather than genuine accountability. The contradictions in UNN’s letters, the sudden involvement of Ortuanya, and the registrar’s silence all feed into a growing belief that this is a hatchet job. And Nnaji, refusing to bow, has become a symbol of resistance—standing tall in court and in public, determined to defend his integrity against what he calls “state-backed blackmail.”
In the final analysis, Mbah’s handling of the Nnaji certificate saga mirrors a leader consumed by political anxiety—afraid of losing relevance and willing to sacrifice institutions and reputations to protect his throne. History teaches that no amount of political engineering can permanently bury truth. In his quest to destroy Uche Nnaji, opponents may have inadvertently exposed their deepest flaw: a desperation so raw that it threatens to consume everything in its path—even the integrity of the very state he governs.
- Okereke is a public affairs analyst and political strategist
English