2027: Peter Obi Under Pressure To Resign As Presidency Cites Anambra’s $123m Debt Allegation

The Presidency has challenged the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate for the 2027 election, Peter Obi, to fulfil his pledge to withdraw from the race if it is established that he did not leave Anambra State debt-free after serving as governor.

The challenge follows fresh claims by the Anambra State Government disputing Obi’s long-standing assertion that he handed over a financially stable state with no outstanding debt.

In a statement, the Presidency recalled that Obi had repeatedly maintained that he left Anambra without debt and publicly declared that he would quit the 2027 presidential race if credible evidence proved otherwise.

According to the Presidency, the Anambra State Government has now presented what it described as official records showing that the administration which succeeded Obi inherited significant financial liabilities.

The Presidency said the state government claimed that the Obi administration left behind unpaid salaries for workers of the Anambra State Water Corporation, outstanding teachers’ entitlements, pensions, gratuities and other financial obligations.

It also cited the state’s allegation that Obi left $123 million in external debt, contradicting his repeated claim that he handed over a debt-free administration.

The Presidency further noted that the Anambra Government questioned some of the loans obtained during Obi’s tenure and said it found no evidence to support his claim that he left about N2.1 billion in the Ecological Fund for the state.

It argued that the latest disclosures have placed the burden on the former governor to respond to the allegations and explain the discrepancies between his claims and the records presented by the state government.

The controversy stems from Obi’s recent insistence that he left Anambra financially healthy and without debt, coupled with his promise to withdraw from the 2027 presidential contest if anyone produced verifiable evidence to the contrary.

However, the Anambra State Government has maintained that official records indicate that the administration inherited outstanding liabilities, including unpaid obligations to workers and pensioners, as well as $123 million in external debt.

The development has sparked fresh political debate ahead of the 2027 general election, with attention now focused on Obi’s response and whether he will stand by his public promise if the allegations are substantiated.