The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned President Bola Tinubu’s response to the certificate forgery allegations against former Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Uche Nnaji, describing it as “weak and disappointing.”
The party criticised the president for merely accepting Nnaji’s resignation instead of pursuing legal action over what it called a serious criminal allegation.
Nnaji resigned on Tuesday after Premium Times published an investigation alleging he forged academic and NYSC credentials submitted during his ministerial screening.
Bayo Onanuga, the president’s special adviser on information and strategy, confirmed that Tinubu had accepted the resignation.
In a statement on Wednesday, October 8, ADC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi said the development raised concerns about the administration’s commitment to integrity and accountability.
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“The ADC believes that the decision of President Tinubu to merely accept the offending former minister’s resignation, instead of taking a tougher stance, gives the unfortunate impression that the president is sympathetic to such behaviour,” the statement reads.
Abdullahi expressed disappointment that Nnaji was allowed to leave quietly despite alleged discrepancies in his credentials, warning that such leniency could send the wrong message to Nigerians, especially young people.
He noted that both the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) had denied issuing the certificates Nnaji presented.
“In this regard, by simply accepting his resignation, President Tinubu has shown that, for whatever reason, his administration is willing to let corrupt officials off the hook easily,” Abdullahi said.
The ADC urged law enforcement agencies to conduct an independent probe, insisting that, “Forgery is not a private offence; it is a crime.”