The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has called on Peter Obi to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race, alleging that his administration left behind liabilities during his tenure as governor of Anambra State.
The council’s spokesman, Dele Alake, made the call in a statement on Monday, following disclosures by the Anambra State Government on the former governor’s financial record.
“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,” Alake said.
The APC campaign council said Obi and his supporters had, over the years, portrayed his eight-year tenure as Anambra governor as one characterised by fiscal prudence, including the claim that he left the state without a debt burden.
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The council, however, described that narrative as false and said recent disclosures by the Anambra State Government had challenged Obi’s account of his administration’s financial record.
Anambra Spent $4.05bn, Contracted $123.77m Loans — APC
According to Alake, the Anambra State Government disclosed that Obi’s administration spent about $4.05 billion, estimated at N5.4 trillion, during his eight years in office.
He added that the former governor’s administration contracted $123.77 million in external loans.
The APC spokesman said the state government also revealed that, as of March 17, 2014, when Obi left office, there were eight different external borrowings for projects covering malaria control, erosion control, education and healthcare.
He said subsequent administrations, including that of Governor Chukwuma Soludo, continued to service the debts.
Alake acknowledged that borrowing can finance development but questioned the loans in light of Obi’s claim that he left Anambra without a debt burden.
“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,” he said.
APC Alleges Unpaid Workers’ Salaries
The campaign council also accused Obi’s administration of failing to pay workers’ salaries in some government agencies.
It cited the Anambra State Water Corporation, saying its workers were among those who protested over unpaid salaries.
Alake referred to a memo dated April 25, 2006, purportedly written by Obi’s then Chief of Staff, Chuks Ileogbunam, appealing to the former governor to pay N15 million in monthly salaries owed to Water Corporation workers.
According to the APC campaign council spokesman, the memo warned that the workers could protest at the Governor’s Office over the unpaid salaries.
The statement quoted Ileogbunam as saying:
“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 memo further appealed to Obi to respond to the workers’ plight.
“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,” Ileogbunam was quoted as saying.
Council Links Debt Claim to Obi’s Campaign Promise
Alake also linked the debt allegations to a reported promise by Obi to withdraw from the presidential race if it was established that he left Anambra with a debt burden.
The APC campaign council said the 2006 memo also showed that Obi had promised during his campaign for governor that he would resign if workers were not paid as and when due.
According to the statement, the promise was that Obi would resign “if there is any case where workers are not paid as and when due.”
The council alleged that Obi left office in 2014 with arrears for his successors to address.
Alake accused the former governor of misleading the people of Anambra and urged him to account for his administration’s record.
The spokesman said Obi should “purge himself of his lies and seek the forgiveness of the Anambra people” rather than continue campaigning for the presidency.
APC questions Obi’s solidarity visit
The campaign council also raised questions over Obi’s recent solidarity visit to an individual facing an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission trial.
Alake described the development as something that should concern Obi’s supporters, alleging that the individual was facing trial over “unexplained wealth and monumental corruption.”
The APC campaign council spokesperson concluded by reiterating its demand that Obi withdraw from the 2027 presidential contest, arguing that doing so would be consistent with his reported promise to end his presidential bid if it was proven that his administration left liabilities in Anambra.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.