The Anambra State Government has accused former governor of the state and 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, of concealing loans and outstanding salary and pension obligations allegedly incurred during his tenure.
The state government made the allegations in a statement issued on Saturday, titled, ‘Peter Obi’s Debts and Lies: More Questions Than Answers,’ in response to an interview granted by Obi on Arise TV on September 24.
The statement alleged that Obi’s administration obtained eight loans from the International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank during his eight-year tenure, totalling $123,771,179.30.
It further alleged that some of the loans had been disbursed before Obi left office but were not disclosed in his handover notes.
According to the government, records of the loans could be verified from the Debt Management Office (DMO), Abuja.
It said the outstanding balance of the eight loans stood at $92.35 million as of June 30, 2026, which it put at N127.37 billion, adding that successive administrations had continued to service the obligations through monthly deductions from allocations from the Federation Account.
‘Till date, neither H.E. Peter Obi nor anyone else has disputed these facts at the DMO,’ the statement said.
The government also accused the former governor of leaving unpaid salary and pension arrears, although the portion of the statement provided did not give the total amount allegedly owed under those categories.
The statement said the controversy arose after Obi challenged anyone to prove that he left behind debts to workers, contractors or others when he left office.
It argued that the state government had previously remained silent about inherited liabilities because successive administrations had been servicing them, but decided to respond after Obi publicly challenged his critics to provide evidence of debts allegedly incurred under his administration.
The government also criticised Obi over what it described as his handling of development spending, arguing that his administration placed undue emphasis on saving public funds and earning interest rather than spending on infrastructure and the welfare and safety of citizens.
It further alleged that Obi’s handover documents contained assets but concealed what it described as ‘humongous liabilities’.
Another issue raised was the whereabouts of N2.13 billion in ecological funds which, according to the statement, Obi had claimed to have left in a particular account and bank but which the government said could not be found there.
The statement accused Obi of applying different standards to himself and his political opponents.
It cited his criticism of previous and subsequent administrations in Anambra and alleged that he had campaigned against the political interests of Governor Chukwuma Soludo, including supporting opposition candidates during the 2021 and 2025 governorship elections.
The government also referred to a dispute over an investment of about $14 million in a brewery in which Obi has an interest.
According to the statement, Obi had described the investment in 2022 as being worth more than $100 million, while the state government later disputed the valuation. It claimed that the investment was subsequently worth less than $3 million.
The government further criticised Obi over his political position on federal elections, recalling that he and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) supported former President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2011 presidential election.
It questioned criticism of APGA and Soludo for supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, arguing that Obi had previously promoted cooperation between APGA and the Federal Government.
The statement said the controversy over Obi’s record in office should be viewed within the broader context of public accountability.
It urged Obi to respond to the allegations and the documentary evidence it said was available from the DMO.
The statement concluded by accusing the former governor of repeatedly making false claims and urged his supporters to advise him to stop doing so.