Isaac Samuel
Ahead of the 2027 general election, former Minister of State for Education and two-time member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, has declared his intention to contest the presidency on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Nwajiuba, who formally unveiled his ambition on Monday, said Nigeria’s current socio-economic and governance challenges require leadership anchored on clear policies, competence and effective negotiation skills rather than political rhetoric.
In a statement issued by his office, the former minister said his experience across the legislative and executive arms of government, as well as key national institutions, had adequately prepared him for the task of national leadership.
According to him, Nigeria is at a critical juncture that demands leaders with deep institutional knowledge, policy clarity and the capacity to rebuild public trust in government.
“Nigeria’s challenges are complex and interconnected. They require leaders who understand governance, public finance and policy implementation, and who can negotiate effectively in the national interest,” Nwajiuba said.
He noted that his decision to run on the ADC platform was informed by the party’s growing appeal as an alternative political force and its openness to issue-based politics.
The former minister is expected to anchor his campaign on education reform, economic stabilisation and the strengthening of public institutions, with a focus on restoring citizens’ confidence in governance.
The statement described Nwajiuba as a seasoned lawyer, called to the Nigerian Bar in 1989, and a former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), noting that his background positions him to prioritise competence and policy depth in leadership.
“Nwajiuba enters the race with a competence-first approach to leadership, placing experience, policy depth and institutional understanding at the centre of national governance,” the statement added.
