The All Progressives Congress (APC) Campaign Council has accused former Anambra State Governor and presidential candidate Peter Obi of misleading Nigerians over his financial record as governor. The council, in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Dele Alake, said claims that Obi left Anambra State without a debt burden had been contradicted by records released by the state government. According to the council, Obi's administration spent about $4.05 billion during his eight years in office and contracted $123.77 million in external loans.
The Anambra State Government has disclosed that eight external borrowing facilities remained outstanding when Obi handed over power on March 17, 2014, with the loans covering areas including malaria control, erosion management, education, and healthcare. The state government also stated that the outstanding balance on the facilities stood at $92.35 million, or about N127.4 billion, as of June 30, 2026. The APC Campaign Council said the issue was not whether governments should borrow, but whether Obi's public claims about his financial record could be reconciled with the records now being presented.
The council also accused the former governor of leaving unpaid workers' salaries and other arrears. It cited a 2006 memo allegedly written to Obi by his then Chief of Staff, Chuks Ileogbunam, concerning unpaid salaries owed to workers of the Anambra State Water Corporation. According to the council, the memo appealed to Obi to release the N15 million monthly salary allocation for the workers to avert protests at the Governor's Office.
The APC council further alleged that Obi had promised during his campaign for governor that he would resign if workers were not paid their salaries as and when due. It linked that pledge to Obi's more recent challenge over the Anambra debt controversy, saying the former governor had similarly promised to quit the presidential race if it was established that he left the state with a debt burden.
The council urged the former governor to address the allegations surrounding his record rather than continue to campaign on what it described as a reputation for fiscal discipline. The council advised Obi to purge himself of his lies and seek the forgiveness of the Anambra people instead of continuing to campaign on a reputation for fiscal discipline.
The debt controversy has generated competing claims, with Obi's camp rejecting the government's account and disputing the figures. The APC Campaign Council also questioned Obi's recent solidarity visit to a person facing an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) trial, describing the case as involving allegations of unexplained wealth and corruption.
The APC Campaign Council's statement concluded by emphasizing that borrowing is not inherently bad if used for development, but Obi's public claims about his financial record must be reconciled with the records now being presented. The council's criticism of Obi's financial record has sparked a fresh controversy in the run-up to the presidential election.
Key points
- The APC Campaign Council accused Peter Obi of misleading Nigerians over his financial record as governor of Anambra State.
- The Anambra State Government disclosed that eight external borrowing facilities remained outstanding when Obi handed over power in 2014.
- The APC council urged Obi to address the allegations surrounding his record rather than continue to campaign on a reputation for fiscal discipline.
