The administration of President Bola Tinubu is facing another controversy as a Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to investigate and prosecute the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Hon. Nkeiruka Chidubem Onyejeocha, over allegations of forging election results from 62 polling units during the 2023 general elections.
The ruling, delivered by Justice M.G. Umar on September 23, 2025, followed an ex parte motion filed by Hon. Amobi Godwin Ogah, a Labour Party (LP) lawmaker representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
Ogah, who defeated Onyejeocha in the 2023 elections, sought a court order compelling INEC to investigate and prosecute the minister for allegedly forging election results submitted at the tribunal to contest his victory.
Onyejeocha, a four-term lawmaker and former Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, had contested the election under the All Progressives Congress (APC) and claimed she won, challenging Ogah’s victory at the National and State Houses of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal.
Ogah countered her claims, accusing her of submitting forged election results, a criminal offence under Section 115 of the Electoral Act, 2022.
In his affidavit, he alleged that the results, marked as Exhibit 3, were not issued by INEC, which also disputed their authenticity during the tribunal proceedings.
Despite submitting formal petitions to INEC in April and May 2025, Ogah claimed the electoral body failed to act, prompting him to approach the court.
Justice Umar ruled in Ogah’s favor, stating that the applicant provided sufficient evidence to justify the court’s intervention. The judge granted an Order of Mandamus compelling INEC to investigate and prosecute Onyejeocha for the alleged forgery.
The court also noted that public institutions could be compelled to perform lawful duties when they fail or neglect to do so, citing precedents to support the decision.
The legal battle dates back to the aftermath of the 2023 elections. While the tribunal initially nullified Ogah’s victory and declared Onyejeocha the winner, partly based on the disputed results, the Court of Appeal later overturned the decision.
The appellate court restored Ogah’s mandate and questioned the credibility of the documents Onyejeocha presented, describing them as inconsistent with INEC’s official records.
This scandal follows closely on the heels of another integrity issue involving former Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Uche Nnaji, who resigned in October 2025 amid allegations of forging his university degree and NYSC discharge certificate.
Nnaji, appointed by Tinubu in August 2023, denied the allegations, claiming they were politically motivated.
However, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, confirmed that Nnaji did not complete his degree, and his resignation was seen as an attempt to shield the administration from further embarrassment.
Both cases have raised questions about the vetting process for public officials and the commitment to accountability within the current administration.