2027 Race: APC Demands Peter Obi’s Resignation Following Anambra Debt Revelations

ABUJA, NIGERIA — The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has formally demanded the immediate withdrawal of Peter Obi, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, from the 2027 presidential race.

The demand follows a heated public dispute over Obi’s financial record during his tenure as Governor of Anambra State.

In a sharp press statement signed by Campaign Council Spokesman Dele Alake, the APC accused Obi of building a “facade of falsehood” around his reputation for fiscal prudence. The ruling party claims that recent disclosures from the Anambra State Government have permanently debunked Obi’s long-standing assertion that he left office without any debt burden.

The Core of the Dispute

The political firestorm erupted after the Anambra State Government, currently led by Governor Chukwuma Soludo, released data detailing the state’s long-term financial obligations. According to state records:

Obi’s administration contracted $123.77 million across eight external loans to fund malaria control, education, healthcare, and erosion management.

Subsequent administrations, including the current one, continue to service these debts.

Total expenditures over Obi’s eight-year tenure amounted to roughly $4.05 billion (₦5.4 trillion).

The APC statement also highlighted historical internal friction, citing an April 2006 memo from Obi’s former Chief of Staff, Chuks Ileogbunam. The memo pleaded with the then-governor to resolve a ₦15 million salary backlog for Water Corporation workers to prevent protests. The APC argues that this contradicts Obi’s campaign promise to resign if workers were not paid on time.

“If Peter Obi has any honour, he must resign from the 2027 presidential race forthwith, in keeping with his promise to end his run if it is proven that his administration left behind liabilities in Anambra,” Alake stated.

The Battle of Data

The conflict largely hinges on differing interpretations of financial liability.

Peter Obi and his team have vigorously defended his record, pointing to his official March 17, 2014 handover documents, which recorded ₦86.67 billion in net liquid funds and strategic investments left for his successors.

Obi’s camp maintains that the foreign credits mentioned were highly concessional, long-term multilateral development loans from entities like the World Bank, rather than commercial debt. Obi has doubled down on his challenge, stating he will abandon his 2027 presidential ambitions only if verified contractors or public servants prove they were left unpaid for completed work at the time he handed over power.

With the 2027 election cycle intensifying, this clash over fiscal transparency guarantees that the governance records of key contenders will remain under intense public scrutiny.