The APC Presidential Campaign Council has criticised former Anambra State Governor and 2027 presidential candidate Peter Obi over his record in office, following disclosures attributed to the Anambra State Government concerning the state’s borrowing and expenditure during his tenure.
In a statement signed by the council’s spokesman, Dele Alake, the campaign council alleged that Obi’s administration contracted external loans and incurred liabilities before leaving office in March 2014.
According to the statement, the Anambra State Government said Obi spent about $4.05 billion, equivalent to N5.4 trillion, during his eight-year tenure and contracted $123.77 million in external loans.
It further claimed that eight external borrowings relating to malaria control, erosion management, education and healthcare were outstanding when Obi left office, with subsequent administrations continuing to service the obligations.
The campaign council said the existence of borrowing did not in itself amount to poor financial management, but argued that the disclosures were relevant to Obi’s repeated claims concerning the state’s financial position when he left office.
The statement also raised questions about alleged salary arrears during Obi’s tenure, citing a 2006 memo purportedly written by his then Chief of Staff, Chuks Ileogbunam, requesting payment of N15 million in monthly salaries owed to workers of the Anambra State Water Corporation.
The council linked the issue to a reported promise by Obi that he would resign if workers were not paid as and when due.
The APC campaign council further criticised Obi over his recent political activities and called on him to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race, arguing that the reported liabilities contradicted his previous position on the issue.
The claims form part of an ongoing political dispute over Obi’s record as Anambra governor and his statements about the state’s finances.
