The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has accused former Anambra State Governor and 2027 presidential aspirant Peter Obi of misrepresenting his record in office, particularly regarding the state’s debt profile and workers’ salary arrears.
In a statement issued on Sunday, September 21, 2026, and signed by the council’s spokesman, Dele Alake, the campaign council alleged that Obi’s administration contracted external loans despite claims that he left Anambra State without a debt burden.
According to Alake, the Anambra State Government recently disclosed that Obi spent approximately $4.05 billion, equivalent to about N5.4 trillion, during his eight years in office and contracted $123.77 million in external loans.
The council further claimed that Obi left office on March 17, 2014, with eight external borrowing arrangements relating to projects including malaria control, erosion management, education and healthcare.
Alake said subsequent administrations, including that of the incumbent governor, Chukwuma Soludo, continued to service the loans.
The APC spokesman acknowledged that borrowing could be justified when deployed for development, but questioned the consistency between the reported borrowings and Obi’s public image as a fiscally prudent leader.
The statement also challenged Obi’s record on workers’ welfare, alleging that some state employees experienced salary arrears during his tenure.
As evidence, Alake cited a memo dated April 25, 2006, purportedly written by Obi’s then-Chief of Staff, Chuks Ileogbunam, requesting the payment of N15 million in monthly salaries owed to workers of the Anambra State Water Corporation.
The APC campaign council said the memo contradicted Obi’s reported campaign pledge that he would resign if workers in the state were not paid as and when due.
Alake further alleged that salary arrears remained a burden for subsequent administrations after Obi left office.
The statement also criticised Obi over a recent solidarity visit to an individual facing an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) trial, describing the development as a matter of concern to Obi’s supporters. The statement did not provide further details of the case in the passage released by the campaign council.
The APC campaign council subsequently called on Obi to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race, arguing that the alleged liabilities left behind by his administration were inconsistent with his earlier pledge concerning Anambra State’s debt position.
Alake urged the former governor to address the allegations and, according to the statement, seek the forgiveness of the people of Anambra State.
The claims contained in the statement are political allegations by the APC Presidential Campaign Council and would require verification against official financial records and independent documentation.
