Anambra Debt Scandal: Govt and Obi Camp Lock Horns Over N127bn Loan Allegations
Anambra State Government and supporters of former governor Peter Obi are clashing over alleged loans obtained during his administration, with the state claiming N127.4 billion remains outstanding and monthly deductions are ongoing. Obi's supporters refute these claims, asserting his financial records are verifiable and he left the state debt-free.
A significant dispute has erupted between the Anambra State Government and supporters of former governor and presidential candidate, Peter Obi, regarding loans allegedly incurred during his administration. The state government asserts that monthly allocations are still being deducted from its revenue to service these financial facilities, while Obi's supporters vehemently deny any outstanding liabilities attributable to his tenure.
Dr. Law Mefor, the Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Value Reorientation, publicly disclosed on Arise News that eight specific loans associated with former Governor Obi's administration remain as liabilities for the state. Mefor clarified that these facilities, while guaranteed by the Federal Government, were not grants, placing the full responsibility for their repayment squarely on Anambra State. He detailed that deductions are consistently made from the state's Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) revenue each month to manage these debts. According to figures the state attributes to the Debt Management Office (DMO), the outstanding balance of these facilities stood at approximately N127.4 billion as of June 30, 2026.
The Commissioner further elaborated that these loans were procured under various development programmes, spanning critical sectors such as malaria control, erosion management, education, healthcare, and agricultural development. While asserting that Obi's administration committed the state to these loan liabilities, Mefor did acknowledge during the Arise interview that he lacked specific details regarding the exact amounts of the approved facilities that were actually drawn down during Obi's time in office. He indicated that these figures would necessitate reconciliation with the DMO.
Conversely, Yunusa Tanko, the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, who also participated in the Arise News discussion, strongly refuted the state government's attempts to link the alleged outstanding debts to Peter Obi's record. Tanko maintained that the former governor's financial records are readily available for thorough verification and challenged anyone disputing Obi's financial accounts to scrutinize these records directly with the relevant banks. He emphasized that Obi had provided comprehensive handover documents detailing Anambra State's financial position at the conclusion of his administration, insisting that Obi left the state with no outstanding salary, pension, or gratuity obligations. Tanko also defended Obi's stance on funds reportedly left in the state's accounts at the point of handover, affirming that these records could be independently verified.
This renewed controversy stems from earlier claims by Peter Obi himself, where he asserted that he did not leave Anambra State with any unpaid debts, salaries, pensions, or gratuities upon handing over power in March 2014. Obi has since challenged the state government to produce concrete evidence to substantiate its allegations, while the Anambra government continues to maintain that several liabilities connected to his administration are indeed still outstanding.