The Presidency has challenged former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi to honour his pledge to stop campaigning for the 2027 presidential election if allegations that his administration left behind financial liabilities are proven.
Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, made the challenge in a post on X on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, following the latest exchange between Obi and the Anambra State Government.
Onanuga recalled that Obi had previously maintained that he left Anambra State without outstanding debts and said he would stop campaigning if anyone could establish otherwise.
The presidential aide said the Anambra State Government had now presented claims involving unpaid obligations to Water Corporation workers, teachers, pensioners and others, as well as outstanding borrowings allegedly linked to previous administrations.
He asked whether Obi would follow through on his earlier statement.
The development comes after Obi rejected allegations by the Anambra State Government that his administration left behind debts and other financial liabilities when he handed over power in 2014.
Obi said his administration had cleared more than ₦35 billion in historical gratuities and arrears and insisted that the state had no outstanding salaries, pensions or gratuities at the point of handover.
The development comes after Obi rejected allegations by the Anambra State Government that his administration left behind debts and other financial liabilities when he handed over power in 2014.
Obi said his administration had cleared more than ₦35 billion in historical gratuities and arrears and insisted that the state had no outstanding salaries, pensions or gratuities at the point of handover.
He also disputed the state government’s position on the disputed ecological fund.
According to Obi, more than ₦2.13 billion released for the Oko/Umuchiana erosion project was left untouched in a First Bank account for his successor because the money was tied to the specific project.
According to Obi, more than ₦2.13 billion released for the Oko/Umuchiana erosion project was left untouched in a First Bank account for his successor because the money was tied to the specific project.
He also said the funds were separate from more than ₦75 billion in savings he claimed his administration left behind.
However, Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Value Reformation, Law Mefor, disputed Obi’s account. Mefor said the First Bank account cited by the former governor was an Internally Generated Revenue Consolidated Revenue Account and not an ecological fund account.
Mefor said the state had obtained a certified printout covering the account from 2011 to date and claimed it showed that the account had never recorded ₦2.13 billion as either an inflow or balance.
However, Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Value Reformation, Law Mefor, disputed Obi’s account. Mefor said the First Bank account cited by the former governor was an Internally Generated Revenue Consolidated Revenue Account and not an ecological fund account.
Mefor said the state had obtained a certified printout covering the account from 2011 to date and claimed it showed that the account had never recorded ₦2.13 billion as either an inflow or balance.
He consequently asked Obi to explain where the amount he said he left for his successor was kept.
The Anambra Government has also disputed Obi’s claims concerning inherited salary, pension and gratuity obligations.
The Anambra Government has also disputed Obi’s claims concerning inherited salary, pension and gratuity obligations.
Mefor said the Soludo administration had cleared about ₦22 billion in inherited gratuity arrears, while alleging that some legacy liabilities remained from previous administrations.
The competing claims have not established, by themselves, a final independent determination of responsibility for the disputed liabilities.
The competing claims have not established, by themselves, a final independent determination of responsibility for the disputed liabilities.
The latest development is therefore a continuation of the public disagreement over Anambra State’s financial position when Obi left office.
Obi has maintained that anyone who can prove his account of the state’s finances was wrong should come forward, saying he would stop campaigning if his claims were disproved.
Related News
Anambra Government Challenges Peter Obi’s ₦2.13bn Ecological Fund Claim
Peter Obi Dares Soludo Government Over Loan Claims
Obi has maintained that anyone who can prove his account of the state’s finances was wrong should come forward, saying he would stop campaigning if his claims were disproved.
Related News
Anambra Government Challenges Peter Obi’s ₦2.13bn Ecological Fund Claim
Peter Obi Dares Soludo Government Over Loan Claims
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