Peter Obi Should Quit 2027 Race If Anambra Debt Claims Are True, Presidency Says

The Presidency has told Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, to withdraw from the 2027 election if it can be proven that his administration left Anambra State with outstanding debts. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, issued this challenge in a post on X on Wednesday. He wrote, "Peter Obi claimed he left Anambra with a clean slate of debt," adding that the state government had "confronted him with facts and figures" concerning workers of the Water Corporation, teachers, pensioners and others owed money.

The Anambra State Government, through Commissioner for Information and Value Reorientation, Dr Law Mefor, disputed Obi's claim that he left the state without unpaid liabilities. Mefor said Governor Chukwuma Soludo's administration had cleared about N22 billion in gratuity arrears inherited from previous governments, owed to retired state and local government workers as well as teachers. He also said eight external loans connected to projects implemented or inherited during Obi's tenure are still outstanding, with a combined balance of $92.35m, valued at N127.37bn as of June 30, 2026.

Obi has previously said his administration cleared more than N35bn in historical gratuities and arrears, and maintained that he left office without unpaid salary, pension or gratuity obligations. He also disputed the state government's position on the ecological fund, saying more than N2.13bn meant for the Oko/Umuchiana erosion crisis remained untouched in a First Bank account. He further said his administration left more than N75bn in savings when it handed over power. The question now is whether Obi will keep his earlier promise to quit the presidential race if evidence shows his administration left debts behind. Let us argue this: if the facts are proven, should Peter Obi step down from the 2027 race?