Former Anambra State Governor and 2027 presidential hopeful, Peter Obi, has challenged the state government to produce evidence that his administration left behind unpaid obligations when he handed over power in 2014.
Obi’s response followed comments by Anambra State Commissioner for Finance, Izuchukwu Okafor, who said the state was still servicing loans obtained by previous administrations, including those of Obi and former Governor Willie Obiano.
Speaking in a video from the Voice of Ndi Anambra podcast, Obi maintained that he left office after settling the financial obligations that were due at the time.
He said his administration did not leave unpaid salaries, pensions or gratuities, adding that suppliers and contractors who had completed their work and whose documentation had been processed were also paid.
Obi challenged the state government to identify anyone or any obligation that remained unpaid when he left office.
He went further by attaching a political consequence to the challenge, saying he would halt his 2027 presidential campaign if evidence emerged showing that he left behind the debts being attributed to his administration.
The former governor also addressed the controversy surrounding funds he said were left in an account belonging to the state government.
According to Obi, about N2.1 billion was kept in a First Bank account for a specific erosion-control project. He said he resisted pressure to spend the money before leaving office because he wanted the incoming administration to have the resources available for the designated project.
He challenged anyone disputing his account of the funds to examine the relevant bank records.
The controversy was triggered by comments from Commissioner Okafor, who said Anambra’s monthly federal allocations were still being subjected to deductions to service loans inherited from previous administrations.
Okafor maintained that the administration of Governor Chukwuma Soludo had not obtained any commercial bank loan since assuming office but had continued to meet obligations attached to loans taken by earlier governments. He said the state had significantly reduced its debt burden and cleared several inherited liabilities.
The renewed disagreement has brought the financial record of successive Anambra administrations back into public debate, particularly as political activities ahead of the 2027 presidential election intensify.
Obi, who is now the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, also used the opportunity to comment on the forthcoming election.
He acknowledged that governors had the right to support candidates of their choice but urged political leaders to allow Nigerians to freely determine the outcome of the election.
According to him, the 2027 election should be conducted in a free, fair and credible manner, with the final decision resting with voters rather than political office holders.
The dispute over Anambra’s inherited debts is expected to remain a major point of political discussion as the 2027 election approaches.
