Professor Bart Nnaji, CON, NNOM, FAS, FAEng, has firmly denied claims circulating online suggesting that he has registered with a political party or become involved in partisan politics in Nigeria.
In a statement issued in response to what it described as a misleading online publication, the renowned engineer and power sector investor clarified that he does not belong to any political party and has no intention of joining one. The clarification follows a wave of inquiries from individuals across Nigeria and abroad who sought confirmation regarding an online report alleging that Professor Nnaji had registered with a political party through an online platform.
According to the statement, the report is entirely false and lacks any factual basis. Professor Nnaji, who previously served Nigeria at the federal level as Minister of Science and Technology and later as Minister of Power under different administrations, has remained non-partisan in his engagements since leaving public office.
The statement emphasized that having already contributed to national development at the highest levels of government, Professor Nnaji has no plans to align himself with any political platform. His focus, it said, remains squarely on advancing Nigeria’s power infrastructure and supporting sustainable development initiatives across the country.
Professor Nnaji also expressed surprise at another claim attributed to a politician in the same report, which alleged that the Federal Government had been coercing him to collaborate with the five Southeast state governments to provide electricity in the region, similar to the operations of his company in Abia State.
Describing the allegation as completely unfounded, the statement noted that there is “no grain of truth” in the suggestion that he is under pressure from the Federal Government or any authority to undertake power projects in the Southeast. It stressed that Professor Nnaji’s longstanding commitment to improving electricity supply in Nigeria predates any such claims and is driven by vision and professional dedication rather than political influence.
Professor Nnaji is the founder of Geometric Power, the company behind the Aba Integrated Power Project. Through its distribution arm, Aba Power, electricity is currently supplied to nine local government areas within the Aba Ring-fenced Area of Abia State. The project is widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s most ambitious indigenous power initiatives.
The statement highlighted that Professor Nnaji’s interest in expanding access to reliable, affordable, and quality electricity is well established. His work, it said, is guided by a deep-seated belief that stable power supply is essential for economic growth, industrialization, and improved living standards.
It further noted that Aba Power has extended electricity supply beyond Abia State to Etche Local Government Area in Rivers State, demonstrating the company’s commitment to serving Nigerians wherever feasible. This expansion, the statement explained, reflects a business and developmental strategy, not a political agenda.
Providing historical context, the statement recalled that in 2013, Geometric Power partnered with the five Southeast state governments and prominent regional entrepreneurs to form a special purpose vehicle known as the Eastern Electric Company. The consortium bid for the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company during the privatization of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) assets.
Although that bid was unsuccessful, Professor Nnaji was not discouraged. Instead, he continued to collaborate with investors and stakeholders committed to strengthening Nigeria’s power infrastructure. The statement underscored that these efforts were purely developmental and not politically motivated.
The claim that he registered with a political party online was described as particularly troubling, given his longstanding reputation for transparency and accessibility. The statement criticized the unnamed media outlet for publishing such allegations without reaching out to Professor Nnaji or his associates for verification.
It described the report as a departure from the principles of responsible journalism, stressing that balanced and accurate reporting requires due diligence, including seeking clarification from the subject of a story before publication.
Professor Nnaji, through his aide, reiterated his open-door policy toward journalists and members of the public. The statement affirmed that he remains available to respond to legitimate inquiries and encourages media organizations to adhere to professional standards in their reporting.
The clarification concluded by restating that Professor Nnaji’s mission is centered on powering Nigeria’s economic transformation through sustainable electricity solutions. He does not require membership in any political party to pursue this objective, nor does he need external coercion to contribute to the development of the Southeast or any other region of the country.
Signed by Edise Ekong, Senior Manager, Brand Media Communications, Aba Power, the statement urged the public to disregard the online claims and focus instead on Professor Nnaji’s documented track record of service, innovation, and investment in Nigeria’s power sector.
For Professor Nnaji, the priority remains clear: delivering reliable electricity to Nigerians and supporting national development through technical expertise and private sector leadership, not partisan politics.
