Anambra Govt Challenges Peter Obi, Demands Unreserved Apology

The Anambra State Government has challenged former governor and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate Peter Obi to apologise to the people of the state over disputed claims concerning loans and other financial liabilities allegedly linked to his administration.

The state government, through the Commissioner for Information and Value Reorientation, Law Mefor, said records from the Debt Management Office (DMO) showed that eight external borrowing facilities associated with projects during Obi’s tenure had a combined contracted value of $123.77 million. The government said the outstanding balance of the facilities stood at about $92.35 million as of June 30, 2026.

According to Bush Radio Academy, Mefor argued that the loan records, including the dates and amounts involved, could be verified through the DMO in Abuja. He also alleged that successive administrations had continued to service obligations associated with previous borrowings through deductions from the state’s Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations.

The commissioner said the loans were connected to development programmes covering areas including healthcare, education, agriculture, erosion management and community development.

Mefor further argued that Obi had challenged the state government to establish that his administration left debt obligations and that the government had now presented records in response to that challenge.

He said the former governor should acknowledge the records and tender what he described as an unreserved apology to the government and people of Anambra State and Nigeria.

The commissioner said the state government remained willing to provide information concerning the financial records of previous administrations, describing the matter as one involving public records and accountability.

However, Obi has disputed the Anambra government’s interpretation of the figures. In a response published on September 25, he said the $123.77 million represented the total contracted value of eight multilateral development facilities rather than a single debt he personally incurred or left behind when he handed over power in March 2014.

Obi said the government should distinguish between the total amount approved for multi-year development programmes, the amount actually drawn by Anambra during his tenure and the amount outstanding when he left office.

The former governor also said the facilities were primarily World Bank and International Fund for Agricultural Development programmes negotiated by the Federal Government, with states participating through subsidiary arrangements.

He maintained that he did not personally approach financial institutions to borrow money or issue a bond on behalf of Anambra State, while acknowledging that the state had repayment responsibilities under the relevant programmes.

Obi further cited DMO figures which he said showed that Anambra’s external debt was about $18 million when he assumed office in 2006 and approximately $30 million when he left office in 2014.

He also maintained that his administration left no unpaid salaries, pensions, gratuities or verified debts owed to contractors and suppliers whose completed projects had been certified.

The former governor said he had remained silent on the controversy in recent days while mourning his late elder brother and friend, Chief Okey Ezeibe, but urged Nigerians and political actors to focus attention on the country’s wider economic and social challenges.

The dispute has continued to generate competing interpretations of Anambra’s financial records under Obi, with the state government relying on DMO records to support its position and Obi challenging the classification and interpretation of the figures.