Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has called on the presidential candidate of the National Democratic Coalition (NDC), Mr Peter Obi, to withdraw from the 2027 presidential election, following recent disclosures by the Anambra State Government on the state’s financial records during his administration.
The council alleged that the records contradicted Obi’s long-standing claim that he left Anambra State without debt after serving as governor between 2006 and 2014.
In a statement issued on Monday, APC Presidential Campaign Council spokesman, Dele Alake, said information released by the Anambra State Government showed that Obi’s administration spent about 4.05 billion US dollars (about N5.4 trillion) during his eight years in office and also contracted 123.77 million US dollars in external loans.
According to Alake, the state government disclosed that when Obi left office on March 17, 2014, there were eight different external loans obtained for projects in malaria control, erosion management, education and healthcare, adding that successive administrations, including that of Governor Chukwuma Soludo, had continued to service the debts.
The APC spokesman argued that while borrowing for development was not wrong, Obi’s repeated claims that he left Anambra without liabilities had now been challenged.
He said, “Borrowing is not injudicious if used for development. But for a man who prides himself on being austere and has frequently claimed he left the state with a clean bill of health, the revelations confirmed what has long been held: Obi is an irredeemable liar, a mediocre governor, unfit for leadership anywhere.”
Alake also referred to an internal memo dated April 25, 2006, allegedly written by Obi’s then Chief of Staff, Chuks Ileogbunam, requesting the governor to approve payment of salaries owed to workers of the Anambra State Water Corporation.
The memo, according to the statement, appealed to Obi to release the monthly salary of the workers to prevent protests.
It read: “Since it is your excellency’s unchanging desire to achieve a better future for our children and children’s children, please, Sir, bear in mind that officials of the Water Corporation also have children who are looking to your compassionate leadership. The President listens with compassion to your appeals on behalf of the children of Anambra. I am 200 per cent sure that you will hearken to the cries of the children whose parents work for the Water Corporation and end their ordeal.”
Alake further claimed that Obi had promised during his governorship campaign to resign if workers’ salaries were not paid when due, but alleged that salary arrears remained when he left office.
The APC spokesman urged the former Anambra governor to apologise to the people of the state instead of defending his record.
“We advise Obi to purge himself of his lies and seek the forgiveness of the Anambra people instead of galloping around platforms, parroting inanities,” he said.
He also criticised Obi’s recent visit to a person standing trial before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), describing it as a cause for concern.
Alake added: “Indeed, if Peter Obi has any honour, he must resign from the 2027 presidential race forthwith, in keeping with his promise to end his run if it is proven that his administration left behind liabilities in Anambra.”
The statement from the ruling party follows recent public exchanges over Peter Obi’s record as governor of Anambra State after the state government released details of its financial records in response to comments by the former governor.
Obi has consistently maintained that he left office without debt and has often cited his financial management record as one of the achievements of his administration.
The latest APC statement represents the ruling party’s reaction to the disclosures by the Anambra State Government. Peter Obi has previously defended his stewardship of the state, while the debate over his administration’s financial legacy has continued to generate political attention ahead of the 2027 general election.
