Former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi has responded to claims surrounding loans allegedly obtained by his administration, after Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s government raised questions about outstanding obligations inherited by the state.
Obi, who is the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), said he did not leave behind unpaid salaries, pensions, gratuities or other financial obligations when he handed over power. His response came amid renewed debate over the financial position of Anambra State and the debt inherited by successive administrations.
The former governor’s position contrasts with claims attributed to officials of the Soludo administration that the state is still servicing loans linked to projects undertaken during Obi’s tenure. A statement attributed to Anambra Commissioner for Finance, Izuchukwu Okafor, said Governor Soludo was still paying a loan allegedly borrowed under Obi.
The disagreement is significant because both Obi and Soludo have been closely associated with Anambra’s economic and political development, while their contrasting accounts have become part of broader public discussions about fiscal management and governance.
Obi has consistently presented his administration as financially prudent, pointing to savings and investments made during his tenure. In previous statements, he has also defended claims concerning funds he said were left for the state after his departure from office.
The latest exchange comes amid heightened political interest in the two politicians. Obi is now seeking national office under the NDC, while Soludo began his second term as Anambra governor in March 2026.
The issue has consequently attracted attention beyond Anambra, particularly as questions about public borrowing, debt servicing and the management of government resources remain important issues in Nigeria.
Peter Obi governed Anambra State from 2006 to 2014, while Soludo succeeded Willie Obiano in 2022. Their differing accounts of the state’s finances highlight the continuing debate over the fiscal legacy of previous administrations and how public debts should be reported and assessed.
