Peter Obi's Financial Past Ignites Fierce Anambra Debt Battle

A dual controversy involving Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and former Anambra State governor, has captured public attention, focusing on both personal relationships and his financial legacy in Anambra State. These debates involve Governor Charles Soludo and his administration, as well as an intervention from Abia State Governor Alex Otti.

The first contention arose from Peter Obi’s claim that he and his wife are godparents to Governor Charles Soludo’s children, a statement he made during the Nigerian Guild of Editors’ 22nd Conference in Enugu. Obi emphasized their close relationship, stating, “My wife and I are godparents to Soludo’s children. We are that close. We are not quarrelling. I will never quarrel with him.” He did not specify how many of Soludo’s six children (four daughters and two sons) they served as godparents to.

However, Nonye Soludo, wife of Governor Charles Soludo, swiftly refuted Obi’s claim as “false.” In a statement released by her media aide, Dan Ezeigwe, Mrs. Soludo clarified that “Mr Peter Obi is not a godfather to any of the children of Professor Chukwuma and Nonye Soludo.” She explained the actual relationship: she is a “confirmation godmother” to Mr. Obi’s daughter, while Mr. Obi’s wife, Margaret Obi, is the “baptismal godmother” to one of Soludo’s daughters. Mrs. Soludo categorically stated that “Neither Mr Obi nor Professor Soludo has served as a godparent to the other’s children.”

The second and more persistent controversy revolves around Peter Obi’s financial stewardship during his tenure as Anambra State governor from 2006 to 2014, specifically concerning debts and savings. Obi has consistently denied leaving any debts or unpaid salaries and pensions, asserting that he saved over $150 million (or $155 million according to some accounts) in the state’s treasury when he left office. He maintained that the eight facilities the government referred to were “concessionary development-support funds secured by the federal government for states selected for it to address specific needs,” not conventional loans.

Conversely, the Anambra State government, under Governor Soludo, has issued a “blistering rebuttal” to Obi’s claims, accusing him of “deliberate falsehood, hypocrisy, and a dangerous lack of understanding of governance.” The state government asserted that it had been quietly repaying billions of Naira to service debts inherited from the Obi administration. It provided what it termed “unassailable evidence,” stating that Obi’s administration signed eight IDA-World Bank loans totaling $123,771,179.30 over his eight-year tenure. The government alleged that Obi disbursed some of these funds before leaving office but “deceptively concealed these from his handover notes.” As of June 30, 2026, the Debt Management Office (DMO) reported an outstanding balance of $92.35 million, equivalent to N127.37 billion, which is being serviced through monthly FAAC deductions by successive administrations.

The state government also dismissed Obi's claim of owing no salaries or pensions, highlighting that over 700 staff of the Anambra State Water Corporation were owed salaries, pensions, and gratuities by his administration. This was confirmed by an Arbitration Panel in 2009 and a National Industrial Court judgment in 2019. The current administration has since opted for an out-of-court settlement for N1,563,143,020.13, of which N1,199,762,000 has been paid. Additionally, the government noted that 11 months of pension arrears owed to primary school teachers, inherited from Governor Mbadinuju, remained unpaid by Obi’s administration.

Regarding Obi’s claim of saving $150 million in banks to earn interest, the Anambra government criticized this approach, calling it