Anambra Governor Soludo and Peter Obi clash over state debts

A political dispute has intensified between Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo and his predecessor, Peter Obi, involving allegations of inherited debt and differing accounts of the state's financial status. The Soludo administration has claimed that Obi's tenure left behind significant liabilities, including external loans and unpaid entitlements for workers, such as those from the Anambra State Water Corporation. Some officials have cited records suggesting outstanding external debt tied to projects from the Obi era.

Peter Obi, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate for 2027, has categorically denied these claims. He asserts that his administration systematically liquidated all arrears and left substantial funds intact, including over ₦2.13 billion in an ecological fund. Former officials have supported Obi's claims, citing handover documents and previous statements from former Governor Willie Obiano and Abia State Governor Alex Otti regarding assets left in the state's coffers.

The friction also carries significant implications for the 2027 general elections. Governor Soludo has criticized Obi's political impact on the Igbo people and has aligned himself with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration, urging the South-East to work with the federal center. Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed Soludo's claims of a unified progressive front, emphasizing the need for party members to vote for their own candidates.