Peter Obi Rejects $123.7m Anambra Debt Claims, Says He Left Office Solvent

Peter Obi, the Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate and former Anambra State governor, has firmly rejected claims that he left the state carrying $123.7 million in external debt when his tenure ended in March 2014. In recent media appearances, Obi characterized the debt allegations as fundamentally flawed public accounting, arguing that the figures cited do not reflect the actual financial position he handed over to his successor.

According to Obi's account, Anambra State possessed over $150 million in available funds at the moment he exited office. He further stated that no salary arrears, gratuity payments, or pension obligations remained unpaid when he departed.

Obi characterised the specific debt figure attributed to his administration as a misrepresentation, noting that such borrowings as did exist were largely concessionary development financing secured by the federal government rather than direct obligations incurred by his state government. The clarification comes amid an ongoing public dispute regarding Anambra's financial obligations during Obi's eight-year governorship.

Obi also used recent interviews to address speculation about tensions with his successor, Governor Chukwuma Soludo. He stated unequivocally that no disagreement exists between them and that he harbours no intention to contest for any state-level office in the future, even should constitutional amendments permit such a move.

Obi attributed his earlier silence on the matter to the death of his elder brother. His pushback on the debt narrative represents one of his most direct engagements with the financial legacy questions that have persisted since he left office nearly a decade ago, with the former governor insisting that contemporary scrutiny of Anambra's accounts during his period reflects mischaracterization of development financing structures.