APC Demands Peter Obi's Exit from 2027 Race Amidst Anambra Debt Claims

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has vehemently called for the resignation of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, from the 2027 presidential race.

The council's spokesman, Dele Alake hasarticulate this demand on Monday which stems from alleged financial impropriety and a substantial debt burden incurred during Obi's eight-year tenure as governor of Anambra State, from 2006 to 2014.

The APC campaign council accused the former governor of misrepresenting his administration’s financial record, challenging him to honor his reported promise to withdraw from the presidential contest if it was definitively established that he left behind a debt burden in the state.

This call to action follows recent disclosures attributed to the Anambra State Government concerning the financial status of the state during Obi’s time in office.

According to the Anambra State Government's revelations, as cited by the APC campaign council, Peter Obi spent an approximate total of $4.05 billion, equivalent to N5.4 trillion, throughout his eight years as governor.

Furthermore, he allegedly contracted external loans amounting to $123.77 million, and the state government’s disclosures indicated that as of March 17, 2014, when Obi left office, eight distinct external borrowings for crucial projects covering malaria control, erosion management, education, and healthcare initiatives remained active.

The council claimed that these loans have since been continuously serviced by subsequent administrations, including the current one led by Governor Chukwuma Soludo.

The APC body, while acknowledging that borrowing for development is not inherently wrong, heavily scrutinized the financial record of a former governor who has consistently presented himself to the public as a paragon of fiscal prudence.

Alake's statement, titled “Peter Obi Has Nowhere to Hide Over His Poor Anambra Record,” asserted that the facade of falsehood built around Peter Obi's persona, particularly his claims of leaving Anambra without a debt burden, has been “torn to shreds” by these revelations.

The council went further to describe Obi as an “irredeemable liar” and a “mediocre governor,” unfit for leadership, given these circumstances.

Adding to the allegations, the council also raised serious concerns over unpaid salaries during Obi’s administration.

They specifically cited a memo dated April 25, 2006, from Obi’s then Chief of Staff, Chuks Ileogbunam.

This memo reportedly appealed to Governor Obi to approve the payment of N15 million in monthly salaries owed to workers of the Anambra Water Corporation to prevent planned protests at the Governor’s Office.

The council used this memo to directly question Obi’s reported commitment to ensuring the prompt payment of workers’ salaries, further accusing him of leaving his successors with significant arrears to clear, although a detailed breakdown of these alleged outstanding liabilities was not provided in the statement.

The APC campaign council reiterated that just as Obi had promised to quit the presidential race if proven to have left a debt burden, he had also similarly promised the Anambra people during his gubernatorial campaign that he would resign as governor if workers were not paid as and when due.

They argued that these promises were unfulfilled and indicative of a pattern of deception.

Beyond the financial allegations, the APC campaign council also criticized Obi over his recent solidarity visit to an individual facing an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) trial for unexplained wealth and monumental corruption. This visit was deemed a matter of significant concern for his supporters.

The council concluded by urging Obi to purge himself of his alleged lies, seek forgiveness from the people of Anambra State, and honorably withdraw from the 2027 presidential contest, in keeping with his public pledges.