The resignation of the Enugu-born disgraced Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Chief Uche Nnaji, has created a Ministerial vacancy for Enugu State.
Two former Governors, Chiefs Sullivan Chime and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, are in contention alongside a top Defence strategist, Dr Davidson Nnamani.
Ex-Governor Chime and Dr Nnamani are members of the APC in Enugu State while former Governor Ugwuanyi is a member of of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike-led G-5 group of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders loyal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
As of now, the race appears to favour Dr Nnamani, who is younger and brings some expertise in the security challenges before the administration.
Also coming in as a factor is the peculiar circumstance in Enugu politics between the Enugu and Nsukka political blocs.
The incumbent Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, is from Enugu block. The two immediate past Ministers under the All Progressive Congress (APC) administrations – Geoffrey Onyema and Uche Nnaji, all came from the Enugu block.
Nsukka block, where Dr Nnamani and Chief Ugwuanyi hail from, is the most favoured for rationality and justice, especially as Nsukka block has not produced a Minister since this democratic dispensation, despite having over 52% of the voting population.
Former Governor Barrister Chime is from Udi Local Government Area (LGA), along with Onyeama, who served for eight years under late President Muhammadu Buhari.
Former Governor Ugwuanyi, a member of PDP from Udenu LGA who lost the Senatorial seat to Okey Ezea in the 2023 elections, is making a subtle move through his friend, Minister Wike to take the slot.
Sources have confirmed that Dr Nnamani Davidson, a PhD holder in Defence and Strategic Studies from Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), is from Isi Uzo LGA, and the same Senatorial zone as the resigned Uche Nnaji, seems to be interested in the post.
Nnamani, who is a strong pillar of APC in his LGA, is a grassroots politician, detribalized and versatile.
But despite the moves, it remains the prerogative of President Tinubu to use his discretion to pick who he considers the best candidate that will represent the State in the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
