By Sandra Ugwu

Enugu, Nigeria – 11th October, 2025

The resignation of Chief Uche Nnaji as Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology has opened a new political chapter in Enugu State, as discussions intensify over who will represent the state in the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

Emerging at the centre of the political contest are three notable figures: former governors Sullivan Chime and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, and defence strategist Dr. Davidson Nnamani.

Chime and Nnamani, both members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), are being viewed as front-runners within party circles, while Ugwuanyi, a prominent figure in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and a member of the influential G-5 group, is reportedly positioning himself as a bridge between both political divides.

Political observers say that the contest may be influenced not only by personal credentials but also by Enugu’s zoning dynamics, a long-standing power-sharing arrangement between the Enugu and Nsukka blocs.

While Governor Peter Mbah and the last two ministers - Geoffrey Onyeama and Uche Nnaji, hail from the Enugu axis, the Nsukka zone, which constitutes more than half of the state’s voting strength, has yet to produce a minister since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999.

This imbalance has sparked renewed calls for fairness in the upcoming nomination, with stakeholders insisting that the Nsukka area deserves consideration.

Among the contenders, Dr. Davidson Nnamani, a Ph.D. holder in Defence and Strategic Studies from the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), is seen as a strong technocratic option. Hailing from Isi-Uzo Local Government Area, the same senatorial district as the outgoing minister, Nnamani has earned a reputation for pragmatic leadership and cross-party acceptability.

Former Governor Sullivan Chime, from Udi LGA, is reportedly reaching out to key political allies in Abuja, while Ugwuanyi, from Udenu LGA, is believed to be leveraging his relationship with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to strengthen his case.

As speculations mount, attention now shifts to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose final decision will determine Enugu State’s next voice at the federal cabinet table.

AnchorNews