The All Progressives Congress (APC) Campaign Council has called on the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, to retract what it described as false claims about his financial record as governor of Anambra State and apologise to the people of the state.
The council’s demand follows fresh allegations concerning loans reportedly obtained during Obi’s tenure as Anambra State governor.
In a statement signed by its spokesperson, Dele Alake, the APC presidential council claimed that financial records released by the Anambra State Government contradicted Obi’s assertion that he left the state without a debt burden.
The statement, titled “Peter Obi Has Nowhere to Hide Over His Poor Anambra Record,” accused the former governor of misleading Nigerians about his administration’s fiscal record.
APC Council Questions Peter Obi’s Debt-Free Claim
According to the council, disclosures attributed to the Anambra State Government indicated that Obi’s administration contracted external loans during his eight-year tenure, contrary to the narrative that he left the state without outstanding liabilities.
The council claimed that the state government reported approximately $123.77 million in external borrowing linked to Obi’s administration. It further alleged that eight external loans covering areas such as malaria control, erosion management, education and healthcare remained associated with the state when Obi left office on March 17, 2014.
The APC council also claimed that subsequent administrations, including that of Governor Chukwuma Soludo, continued servicing the reported debt.
The council acknowledged that borrowing could be justified when used for development but questioned the loans in light of Obi’s reputation for fiscal prudence.
It accused the former governor of failing to deliver sufficient development across key sectors of Anambra State and raised allegations concerning unpaid workers’ salaries.
Council Cites Alleged Unpaid Water Corporation Salaries
In its statement, the APC council referred to a memo allegedly written by Chuks Ileogbunam, who served as Peter Obi’s Chief of Staff, on April 25, 2006.
The council claimed that the memo appealed to Obi to pay the Anambra State Water Corporation workers’ monthly salary of N15 million to prevent protests at the governor’s office.
According to the statement, the memo highlighted the impact of unpaid wages on the affected workers and their families.
The APC council further alleged that Obi had promised during his gubernatorial campaign to resign if workers were not paid their salaries as and when due.
However, the council claimed that the former governor did not fulfil that commitment and left his successors with outstanding salary arrears when he left office in 2014.
The allegations contained in the APC statement have been presented as part of the council’s criticism of Obi’s record in Anambra State. The specific financial figures, loan obligations and claims about salary arrears would require verification against official government records and relevant documentary evidence.
APC Demands Obi’s Withdrawal from 2027 Presidential Race
The APC presidential council also referenced an alleged promise by Peter Obi to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race if it were established that his administration left behind a debt burden in Anambra State.
Based on its interpretation of the reported financial disclosures, the council called on Obi to honour that commitment and withdraw from the presidential contest.
The council urged the former Anambra governor to acknowledge the allegations and seek forgiveness from the people of the state rather than continue defending what it described as a misleading public image.
The statement also criticised Obi’s reported solidarity visit to an individual facing an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) trial, raising questions about the political implications of the visit.
The APC’s statement represents the council’s position in an ongoing political dispute over Peter Obi’s record as Anambra governor. Obi’s response to the specific allegations, including the reported loan figures and outstanding liabilities, would be necessary for a complete account of the controversy.