- Replacement For Uche Nnaji Emerge
- Ex-governors Chime, Ugwuanyi, and strategist Nnamani top the list.
- Tinubu to decide, balancing loyalty, zoning, and competence.
A fresh political contest has erupted in Enugu State over who will replace former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, following his resignation.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that Front-runners for the position include two former governors, Sullivan Chime and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, alongside defence strategist Davidson Nnamani. While Chime and Nnamani are members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ugwuanyi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is reportedly leveraging his ties with the pro-Tinubu G-5 bloc to bolster his chances.
According to political observers, the battle for the ministerial slot will not be determined by party loyalty alone but also by long-standing zoning considerations within Enugu State. The Enugu bloc, which produced Governor Peter Mbah, has historically dominated ministerial positions, with former ministers Geoffrey Onyeama and Uche Nnaji both hailing from the area.
In contrast, the Nsukka zone, representing over 52 per cent of the state’s voting population, has not produced a minister since 1999 — a situation that has intensified calls for equity and political balance.
Among the contenders, Davidson Nnamani, who holds a PhD in Defence and Strategic Studies from the Nigerian Defence Academy, is seen by many APC insiders as the frontrunner. Nnamani, from Isi-Uzo Local Government Area, has gained popularity as a pragmatic grassroots mobilizer within the party.
Former Governor Sullivan Chime, from Udi, is said to be lobbying key political figures in Abuja to secure support, while Ugwuanyi, from Udenu, is believed to be banking on his strong alliance with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, a key powerbroker in the Tinubu administration.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected to make the final decision, balancing political loyalty, competence, and regional representation in his choice of Enugu’s next minister.
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