APC Asks Obi to Quit 2027 Presidential Race over Anambra Debt Claims

The All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council has called on Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate Peter Obi to withdraw from the 2027 presidential election over claims concerning debts and other liabilities incurred during his tenure as governor of Anambra State.

The APC campaign council, in a statement issued on Monday by its spokesman, Dele Alake, referred to Obi’s reported pledge to leave the presidential race if it was established that his administration left outstanding liabilities when he left office.

The call followed recent disclosures by the Anambra State Government regarding the financial obligations allegedly incurred during Obi’s eight-year tenure from 2006 to 2014.

The state government said Obi’s administration obtained external loans totalling $123.77 million, with eight facilities remaining outstanding when he left office on March 17, 2014. According to the state, the outstanding balance on the loans stood at $92.35 million, equivalent to about N127.4 billion, as of June 30, 2026.

The loans were reportedly used to finance projects in areas including malaria control, education, healthcare, erosion management, community development and agricultural value-chain development. Successive administrations have continued to service the facilities, according to the state government.

Obi has disputed the government’s description of his financial record, maintaining that his administration did not leave unpaid salaries, pensions, gratuities or properly executed and certified obligations to contractors when it handed over power.

The APC campaign council, however, argued that the reported external loans contradicted the image of a debt-free administration associated with Obi’s tenure.

The council also cited the Anambra government’s claim that about $4.05 billion was spent during Obi’s eight years in office. The state reportedly arrived at a naira equivalent of about N5.4 trillion by applying the current exchange rate to the figure, while explaining that the original dollar figure was derived from audited expenditures converted using the official exchange rates applicable at the time.

Alake also alleged that some workers were owed salaries during Obi’s tenure. He cited a purported April 25, 2006 memo from Obi’s then Chief of Staff, Chuks Ileogbunam, which appealed for approval of N15 million in monthly salaries for workers of the Anambra Water Corporation.

The APC council argued that the document contradicted Obi’s reported campaign pledge to resign if workers were not paid as and when due.

The campaign organisation further questioned Obi’s recent visit in solidarity with an individual facing trial by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), although it did not identify the person involved.

The APC council urged Obi to respond to the financial records presented by the Anambra State Government and maintained that he should honour his reported pledge if the allegations of outstanding liabilities were established.

The Anambra government has maintained that the issue is not whether borrowing is permissible for development, but whether the previous administration incurred loan obligations that remained for subsequent governments to service.