Presidency dares Peter Obi to quit presidential race over Anambra debt controversy

The Presidency of Nigeria has challenged presidential candidate Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race following a dispute between him and the Anambra State government regarding debts and financial liabilities. Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, made this demand in a statement on Wednesday.

According to Onanuga, Obi had claimed to have left the Anambra State government without any debt after serving his two terms. However, the Anambra State government has responded with evidence suggesting otherwise. They claim that Obi's administration left behind various liabilities, including unpaid debts to Water Corporation workers, teachers, pensioners, and for gratuities. Additionally, they allege that Obi borrowed money for unrelated expenses.

Onanuga now calls on Obi to follow through on his threat to quit the presidential race if the Anambra government's claims are proven true. This challenge comes after Anambra State's Commissioner for Information and Value Reformation, Law Mefor, refuted Obi's claims in a statement on Wednesday. Mefor's statement detailed records of the alleged unpaid debts incurred during Obi's tenure as governor, including a N2 billion ecological fund, contractor liabilities, and unpaid salaries, gratuities, and pensions.