The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has called on former Anambra State Governor and presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress(NDC), Peter Obi, to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race over alleged financial liabilities incurred during his tenure as governor.
The council made the call in a statement issued on Monday by its spokesman, Dele Alake, following recent disclosures by the Anambra State Government on the state’s finances under Obi.
According to the state government, Obi’s administration spent about $4.05 billion, equivalent to N5.4 trillion, during his eight years in office and contracted $123.77 million in external loans.
The government also said eight external loan facilities linked to projects including malaria control, erosion management, education and healthcare were still being serviced by subsequent administrations after Obi left office on March 17, 2014.
Reacting to the disclosures, Alake accused Obi and his supporters of portraying his administration as one defined by fiscal prudence and of maintaining that he left Anambra without a debt burden.
He said the figures released by the state government contradicted that narrative.
“According to the Anambra State Government, the former governor spent about USD 4.05 billion, or N5.4 trillion, over his eight years in office and contracted USD 123.77 million in external loans,” Alake said.
The council also raised allegations of unpaid salaries during Obi’s tenure, citing a memo dated April 25, 2006, from his then Chief of Staff, Chuks Ileogbunam, concerning workers of the Anambra Water Corporation.
The memo, according to Alake, appealed to Obi to approve N15 million for the workers’ monthly salaries to prevent protests over unpaid wages.
The council further recalled a reported promise by Obi to resign as governor if workers were not paid as and when due, and linked it to his more recent pledge to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race if it was established that he left Anambra with a debt burden.
“Indeed, if Peter Obi has any honour, he must resign from the 2027 presidential race forthwith,” Alake said, arguing that Obi should honour the commitment.
Obi’s camp has rejected the Anambra government’s claims, maintaining that he left office without outstanding debts, salaries, pensions, gratuities or payments owed to contractors for completed and certified projects.
The controversy follows a fresh exchange between Obi and the Anambra State Government over the state’s debt position and the financial record of his administration.