Former Anambra State Governor and 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has released a handover document from his tenure as governor amid claims over financial liabilities allegedly inherited by subsequent administrations.
The document was made public on Wednesday by the Interim National Coordinator of the Obedient Movement, Dr Yinusa Tanko, as Obi sought to counter recent claims by officials of the Anambra State Government concerning debts and other obligations linked to his administration.
Dated March 17, 2024, the document reportedly contained a summary of the state’s financial position as of the close of business on that date, with a stated net positive balance of more than N86bn.
The development followed statements from Anambra State officials alleging that the current administration was still servicing debts and other liabilities inherited from previous governments, including Obi’s tenure.
The document cited eight outstanding external loans with a combined balance of about $92.35m, while the source material also referenced claims involving unpaid gratuities, pensions and related obligations.
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The controversy has also drawn a response from the Presidency, which had challenged Obi to honour an earlier pledge to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race if evidence emerged of unpaid liabilities from his time as governor.
Obi’s release of the handover document therefore adds fresh documentation to the ongoing dispute over the financial position he left behind in Anambra.
The document, however, represents Obi’s account of the state’s financial position at the time of handover. The material provided does not independently establish how the figures compare with subsequent debt records or the liabilities being cited by current state officials.
Obi served as governor of Anambra State before later becoming a presidential candidate in the 2023 general election. He is now listed in the source material as the NDC’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election.
