The All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council has challenged former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race, citing fresh records released by the Anambra State Government on loans allegedly contracted during his tenure.
The council said Obi had previously pledged to quit the presidential contest if it was established that his administration left Anambra State with a debt burden.
In a statement on Monday signed by its spokesperson, Dele Alake, the council said records released by the Anambra State Government showed that Obi’s administration contracted $123.77 million in external loans during his eight years as governor.
According to the state government, eight external borrowing facilities linked to projects in areas including malaria control, healthcare, education, erosion management and agricultural development remained outstanding when Obi left office on March 17, 2014.
The government said the loans had an outstanding balance of about $92.35 million, equivalent to approximately N127.37 billion, as of June 30, 2026, with successive administrations continuing to service the obligations.
The APC campaign council argued that the disclosures contradicted Obi’s longstanding claim that he left Anambra without a debt burden.
It also cited a purported 2006 memo from Obi’s then Chief of Staff, Chuks Ileogbunam, concerning N15 million in monthly salary arrears owed to workers of the Anambra State Water Corporation.
The council said the allegation raised questions about Obi’s previous claims concerning the payment of workers’ salaries and other liabilities.
Obi, however, has rejected claims that he left Anambra with unpaid salaries, pensions, gratuities or debts owed to contractors for properly executed projects.
The controversy follows the Anambra State Government’s recent release of details of loans it attributed to Obi’s administration. The government said the figures were based on records from the Debt Management Office.
The APC council has therefore called on Obi to explain the loan records and honour what it described as his earlier commitment to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race if it is established that his administration left liabilities in the state.
The dispute has added a fresh point of contention to the political debate over Obi’s record as Anambra governor ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
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