The Anambra State Government has responded to former Governor Peter Obi's recent comments on the state's financial position when he left office. In a statement issued on September 26, 2026, the government insisted that Obi's administration inherited and left behind significant liabilities, including loans, unpaid workers' entitlements, and pension arrears. This response follows Obi's interview on Arise TV on September 24, where he raised questions about the handling of state funds and the contents of his handover documents.
According to the government, Obi's administration signed eight loans from the International Development Association (IDA) and World Bank during his tenure, with a combined value of $123,771,179.30. The outstanding balance of these loans stood at $92.35 million as of June 30, 2026, valued at N127.37 billion. The government alleged that these loans were not disclosed in the handover documents presented by Obi. The loans have been serviced through deductions from the state's monthly Federation Account Allocation Committee funds.
The government also addressed Obi's argument that he did not personally borrow the funds, stating that signing loan agreements was sufficient to perfect the borrowing. The government emphasized that the existence of assets capable of covering liabilities does not eliminate the requirement to disclose the liabilities in a government's financial records. The disagreement centers on whether liabilities existed and should have been disclosed, rather than whether the assets left by Obi were sufficient to offset the debts.
The Anambra State Government accused Obi's administration of leaving unpaid entitlements owed to workers of the Anambra State Water Corporation. Over 700 workers were owed salaries, pensions, and gratuities, confirmed by a 2009 arbitration proceeding and a 2019 judgment of the National Industrial Court. The present administration entered into an out-of-court settlement with the affected workers on February 26, 2024, for N1,563,143,020.13, and has so far paid N1,199,762,000.
The government also raised the issue of pension arrears owed to primary school teachers, alleging that Obi inherited 16 months of certified pension arrears from the administration of former Governor Chinwoke Mbadinuju, but only five months were paid during Obi's tenure. The remaining 11 months have not been paid, although Obi's administration directed shortly before leaving office that the arrears should be settled. The government is currently re-verifying the outstanding claims and hopes to make payment.
The government questioned Obi's argument about savings allegedly accumulated by his administration, stating that government funds should be assessed in terms of their impact on infrastructure, security, healthcare, education, and other areas of public welfare. The government cited claims that 78 of Anambra's 179 communities had no public primary schools at the time, while several communities lacked functional primary healthcare facilities and accessible roads.
The government also accused Obi of failing to explain the whereabouts of N2.13 billion in Ecological Fund money and questioned the authenticity and completeness of the handover documents presented by Obi. The government stated that it was in possession of the handover note and alleged that the document contained inconsistencies relating to the assets presented by Obi while failing to adequately disclose liabilities.
Key points
- The Anambra State Government has released details on liabilities inherited from Peter Obi's administration, including loans and unpaid workers' entitlements.
- The government has disputed Obi's claims that he left no debts when he left office, citing records from the Debt Management Office.
- The government has also questioned the authenticity and completeness of Obi's handover documents, alleging inconsistencies and a lack of disclosure of liabilities.
