Peter Obi promised to quit his 2027 campaign if anyone proves he left debts, salaries, or contractor fees when leaving Anambra office.
Former Governor of Anambra State and presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has issued a bold challenge to the current Anambra State Government over claims that his administration left huge debts behind.
Speaking in a public video broadcast and a statement released from Awka on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, the politician declared that he will completely stop his campaign for the 2027 presidential election if anyone can show real proof that he left unpaid salaries, pensions, or contractor fees when he stepped down from office in 2014.
The main reason for this heated argument is a public statement made by the Anambra State Government. Officials in the current state leadership under Governor Chukwuma Soludo claimed that money is still being deducted every month from the state’s central government allocation to pay off old loans taken during the time of past governors, including Peter Obi.
State leaders also mentioned a two billion naira ecological loan as part of the old debts. Angry about these claims, Obi came out to defend his name, saying the stories are totally untrue and that he cleared all state debts before leaving office.
Setting the record straight and offering to show full bank proof, Peter Obi gave a clear response to the accusations.
Defending his record on paying workers and contractors, Peter Obi stated that “My attention has been drawn to trending claims by the Anambra State Government that my administration left behind inherited debts, including a ₦2 billion ecological loan, contractor liabilities, and unpaid salaries, gratuities, and pensions. This is completely false”.
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Explaining how his government paid off old debts, the former governor added that “We systematically liquidated historical gratuities and arrears dating back several years, amounting to over ₦35 billion. At the point of handover, the state owed nothing in salaries, gratuities, or pensions, nor did we owe anything to any contractor for projects duly executed and certified”.
Pointing to the exact bank details where he left the special ecological money, Peter Obi noted that “The money was therefore left 100 per cent intact in First Bank, in Account No. 2018779464, with a balance of over ₦2.13 billion”.
Issuing his strong promise to end his political campaign if proven wrong, Obi declared that “If anybody can establish anything to the contrary, I will stop campaigning”.
Reports show that the current state administration insists it is still working hard to clear old financial burdens without taking new commercial bank loans.
Meanwhile, financial analysts note that public records from the time Obi left office in 2014 recorded huge savings in foreign and local currency accounts for Anambra State.
Jennifer Baba is a journalist, international news correspondent, and writer at Moderncrux, where she covers artificial intelligence, fintech, emerging technologies, global politics, and international affairs. Based in Nigeria, she is passionate about transforming complex global developments into clear, engaging stories that inform and inspire readers.
