ABUJA — The All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council has challenged the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, over his record as governor of Anambra State, particularly his claim that he left the state without an outstanding debt burden.
The council, in a statement issued on Monday by its spokesman, Dele Alake, cited recent disclosures by the Anambra State Government which it said showed that Obi’s administration contracted $123.77 million in external loans during his eight-year tenure.
According to the Anambra State Government, eight external loan facilities associated with projects undertaken during Obi’s administration remained outstanding when he left office on March 17, 2014. The facilities covered areas including malaria control, healthcare, education, erosion management, agriculture and community development.
The state government further said the loans had an outstanding balance of approximately $92.35 million, equivalent to about ₦127.37 billion, as of June 30, 2026, and that successive administrations had continued to service the obligations.
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The APC campaign council also cited figures released by the Anambra Government which put total spending during Obi’s eight years in office at about $4.05 billion.
Alake argued that borrowing for legitimate development projects was not inherently wrong, but questioned Obi’s claim that he left the state without a debt burden.
The council also raised allegations concerning unpaid salaries and other financial obligations, citing an April 25, 2006 memo attributed to Obi’s then Chief of Staff, Chuks Ileogbunam, concerning salary payments to workers of the Anambra State Water Corporation.
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Obi’s camp, however, has disputed the Anambra Government’s characterization of his financial record. Reports on the dispute indicate that Obi has maintained that he left office without unpaid salaries, pensions, gratuities or obligations to contractors for properly executed and certified projects.
The disagreement has therefore centered partly on the distinction between outstanding development loans contracted during Obi’s tenure and his claim that he cleared outstanding liabilities owed directly to workers, pensioners and contractors when he left office.
The APC campaign council has now urged Obi to honour his earlier pledge concerning his 2027 presidential ambition if it is established that he left Anambra State with a debt burden.
The controversy is expected to remain a major issue in the political debate over Obi’s record as Anambra governor as the 2027 presidential election approaches.
