The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has accused former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi of misrepresenting his financial record in office, alleging that his administration incurred external debts despite his repeated claims that he left the state without a debt burden.
In a statement issued on Monday, September 21, 2026, and signed by its spokesman, Dele Alake, the council said recent disclosures by the Anambra State Government had challenged what it described as the long-standing narrative of fiscal prudence surrounding Obi’s eight-year tenure.
According to the statement, the Anambra State Government said Obi’s administration spent about $4.05 billion, equivalent to N5.4 trillion, during his eight years in office and contracted $123.77 million in external loans.
The council further claimed that eight external borrowings relating to malaria control, erosion management, education and healthcare were outstanding when Obi left office on March 17, 2014, with subsequent administrations continuing to service the obligations.
The statement acknowledged that borrowing could be justified where funds were used for development, but questioned the contrast between the reported borrowings and Obi’s public claims about leaving Anambra without debt.
The APC council also alleged that workers in some state institutions experienced salary arrears during Obi’s tenure.
It cited an April 25, 2006 memo purportedly written by Obi’s then Chief of Staff, Chuks Ileogbunam, appealing to the governor to pay N15 million in monthly salaries owed to Water Corporation workers.
The council said the memo was significant because, according to its account, Obi had pledged during his campaign to resign as governor if workers were not paid as and when due.
The statement accused Obi of failing to honour that pledge and alleged that his administration left subsequent governments with salary arrears to address. Those allegations were presented by the campaign council and were not independently established in the statement.
The council also criticised Obi over a recent solidarity visit to an individual facing an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) trial, characterising the visit as inconsistent with the standards it said Obi should uphold.
Alake called on Obi to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race, citing what he described as Obi’s earlier commitment to do so if it was established that his administration left liabilities for Anambra State.
The statement forms part of an ongoing political dispute over Obi’s record as Anambra governor and the interpretation of the state’s finances during and after his tenure.
