The All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, APC-PCC, has called on the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Mr Peter Obi, to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race, following fresh claims by the Anambra State Government that his administration left behind financial liabilities.
In a statement issued on Monday by its Spokesman, Mr Dele Alake, the Council said Obi’s record as Anambra Governor had, over the past four years, been presented by him and his supporters as one of exceptional fiscal prudence, including claims that he left the state without a debt burden.
The Council said recent disclosures by the Anambra State Government, following Obi’s challenge to verify his record, raised questions about those claims.
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“Indeed, if Peter Obi has any honour, he must resign from the 2027 presidential race forthwith,” the APC-PCC said, arguing that such a decision would align with Obi’s earlier pledge to end his presidential campaign if it was established that his administration left liabilities in Anambra State.
While acknowledging that borrowing could legitimately be deployed to finance development, the APC-PCC questioned what it described as the gap between Obi’s public portrayal of his fiscal record and the liabilities now being cited by the state government.
The Council also criticised Obi’s performance across some sectors during his tenure, alleging that workers in certain government establishments experienced salary arrears.
According to figures released by the state government, Obi’s administration spent an estimated $4.05 billion during its eight years in office and contracted external loans amounting to $123.77 million. Anambra State government said eight external loan facilities associated with projects in malaria control, erosion management, education, healthcare and other development areas remained when Obi left office on March 17, 2014.
The Anambra Government put the outstanding balance on the loans at about $92.35 million, or approximately ₦127.4 billion at the exchange rate used in its computation, as of June 30, 2026, saying successive administrations had continued servicing the facilities.
It specifically referred to a memorandum dated April 25, 2006, which it said was written by Obi’s then Chief of Staff, Chuks Ileogbunam, appealing to the former governor to address salary obligations of workers of the Anambra State Water Corporation to prevent protests at the Government House.
According to the APC-PCC, the memorandum recalled a campaign commitment attributed to Obi that he would resign as governor if workers were not paid as and when due, drawing a parallel between that undertaking and his recent pledge concerning liabilities allegedly left by his administration.
The Anambra State Government had also alleged that Obi left outstanding salary, pension and gratuity obligations involving some workers, including staff of the defunct Water Corporation and retired teachers.
Alake consequently urged Obi to respond to the financial records and reconsider his 2027 ambition in line with the commitment he had made.
The APC-PCC also criticised Obi over a recent solidarity visit to a person facing trial by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, saying the development raised further questions for his supporters.
The APC-PCC also criticised Obi over a recent solidarity visit to a person facing trial by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, saying the development raised further questions for his supporters.
Alake further called on Peter Obi to respond to the financial records and reconsider his 2027 ambition in line with the commitment he had made.
Meanwhile, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Mr Peter Obi, had rejected the Anambra Government’s claims, maintaining that his administration cleared more than ₦35 billion in historical gratuities and arrears and left office without outstanding salaries, pensions, gratuities or debts to contractors for duly executed and certified projects.
Obi had challenged Anambra State government to provide evidence to the contrary and pledged to stop campaigning for the presidency if its allegations were established.
