The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council on Monday called on former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi to withdraw from the 2027 presidential contest, citing newly released records of external loans contracted during his tenure.
In a statement signed by its spokesman, Dele Alake, the council said Obi had previously pledged to end his presidential bid if it was established that he left Anambra State with a debt burden.
The statement referred to figures released by the Anambra State Government showing that Obi’s administration contracted $123.77 million in external loans over eight years. It said eight external borrowing facilities for malaria control, erosion management, education and healthcare remained outstanding when Obi left office on March 17, 2014, with subsequent administrations continuing to service the debts.
“Indeed, if Peter Obi has any honour, he must resign from the 2027 presidential race forthwith, in keeping with his promise to end his run if it is proven that his administration left liabilities in Anambra,” Alake said.
The council added that the disclosures contradicted Obi’s longstanding claim of leaving the state without a debt burden. It also noted that the state government had put expenditure during his tenure at about $4.05 billion.
The APC further alleged that Obi’s administration left salary arrears, pointing to a purported April 25, 2006 memo from his then Chief of Staff seeking payment of N15 million in monthly salaries owed to workers of the Anambra State Water Corporation. The council said this conflicted with Obi’s alleged pledge to resign if workers were not paid on time.
Obi has rejected claims that he left Anambra with unpaid salaries, pensions, gratuities or debts to contractors for properly executed projects.
The council nevertheless demanded that he explain the loan records and honour what it described as his earlier commitment. Alake also criticised a recent solidarity visit by Obi to a person facing an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission case, saying the visit required further explanation.
The dispute over Obi’s Anambra record has surfaced as a fresh point of contention ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
