Nigeria: I Will Stop Campaigning If Anyone Proves I Left Debts in Anambra, Obi Dares Critics

What the report says

Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, has publicly rejected allegations that his administration left debts and unpaid obligations in Anambra State, and challenged the state government to prove its claims. In comments reported by This Day and carried by AllAfrica, Obi said the accusations involved a N2 billion ecological loan, contractor liabilities, and unpaid salaries, gratuities and pensions. He argued that his government had cleared long-standing arrears and that, by the time he left office in 2013, the state did not owe workers or contractors for completed, certified projects.

Obi also disputed the allegation about the ecological funds, saying the money had been released shortly before the end of his tenure for erosion control work in the Oko/Umuchiana area. He said the funds were kept in a bank account for the next administration because they were tied to a specific project. More broadly, he said public finances should be examined through verifiable records and claimed his administration left substantial savings for its successor.

The dispute comes amid renewed political debate over Anambra’s fiscal history and the legacies of successive governments. Separately, Obi said he had no objection to scrutiny of his academic records and urged institutions he attended to release documents lawfully if requested. His media office also raised concerns about reports that university academics endorsed President Bola Tinubu, arguing that anyone involved in political endorsements should not serve in sensitive election roles if appointed by the Independent National Electoral Commission.