A public spat between Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate Peter Obi has reignited ahead of the 2027 general elections. The two politicians have been exchanging words over Obi's financial record as governor of Anambra State. Obi recently claimed that he left office without owing any debt, while the Anambra State Government countered that Obi's administration left behind external loans worth N127.37 billion.
The dispute centers on the financial record Obi left behind as governor. Obi stated in a Washington, US, interview and a subsequent Facebook post that he paid all outstanding debts, including salaries, pensions, and gratuities, before leaving office. He also denied claims that he left behind a debt of N2.1 billion in ecological funds, saying the funds were left intact in a First Bank account.
The Anambra State Government responded by publishing a three-page document detailing the state's financial position. Commissioner for Information and Value Reformation, Law Mefor, stated that Obi's administration obtained or inherited eight external loans with a combined balance of $92.35 million, equivalent to N127.37 billion, as of June 30, 2026. The loans were tied to projects such as malaria control, Fadama development, and erosion control.
The state government also claimed that it had inherited and cleared about N22 billion in gratuity arrears owed to retired state and local government employees and teachers. Mefor said the government had obtained a certified statement of the First Bank account, contradicting Obi's claims that the alleged N2.13 billion was never deposited into the account.
Oseloka Obaze, former Secretary to the Anambra State Government under Peter Obi, waded into the crisis, stating that he was present when Obi signed the handover documents on March 17, 2014. Obaze said the handover documents listed the financial position of the state, including funds and investments held by the government at the time Obi left office.
Obaze also cited former Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, who publicly stated in 2022 that Obi left behind a significant amount of funds. The spat between Soludo and Obi is not new, with both politicians having a history of disagreements dating back to the 2023 election.
The NDC has rebuffed the presidency's call on Obi to stop campaigning for the 2027 general poll, saying the presidency was joking. The party's National Publicity Secretary, Mr Osa Director, described the Anambra State Government's publication of financial transactions during Obi's tenure as "voodoo economics."
Key points
- The dispute between Soludo and Obi centers on the financial record Obi left behind as governor of Anambra State.
- Obi claims he left office without owing any debt, while the Anambra State Government counters that Obi's administration left behind external loans worth N127.37 billion.
- The spat between Soludo and Obi is not new, with both politicians having a history of disagreements dating back to the 2023 election.
