I Paid All Debts Due Before Leaving Office — Peter Obi

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has rejected claims that his administration left unpaid debts for the Anambra State Government, insisting that all verified financial obligations were settled before he left office in 2014.

Obi, who governed Anambra State from 2006 to 2014, made the clarification while responding to claims that the state was still making deductions from its federal allocation to service loans obtained under previous administrations.

The Anambra State Commissioner for Finance, Izuchukwu Okafor, had said the state was still servicing loans secured during the administrations of Obi and his successor, Willie Obiano.

However, Obi disputed the claim, saying his administration did not leave unpaid salaries, pensions, gratuities or outstanding payments to suppliers and contractors whose claims had been properly processed before the end of his tenure.

He maintained that all obligations that were due and properly documented had been paid before the handover in 2014.

The former governor also addressed the state’s ecological fund, saying about N2.1 billion was in an account belonging to the government when he left office.

According to him, the Federal Government had released the money about three months before the end of his tenure specifically for an erosion-control project.

Obi said the money was deliberately left untouched because it was earmarked for the project and was not intended for general government expenditure.

He explained that some members of his administration had suggested spending the fund before the end of his tenure, but he rejected the idea because the incoming administration would need the resources to continue government projects.

The NDC candidate challenged anyone disputing his account to examine the relevant bank records, saying the details of the account and branch could be verified.

On the 2027 presidential election, Obi said governors had the constitutional and political right to support any candidate of their choice.

He said the growing number of governors backing President Bola Tinubu was part of the political process and that he was not asking governors to support his candidacy.

Instead, Obi said his demand was for the 2027 election to be conducted freely, fairly and credibly so that Nigerians could determine their preferred leader through their votes.

He said the final decision should rest with the electorate rather than governors, adding that he contested the 2023 presidential election without controlling elected officials at the grassroots or in state governments.

Obi said he remained focused on campaigning for the presidency and urged political actors to allow voters to freely choose their preferred candidate.

He pledged to accept the outcome of a free, fair and credible election, saying the choice of Nigeria’s next president should ultimately reflect the decision of the people.