RismadarVoice Reporters
September 19, 2026
Political analyst Dickson Iroegbu has accused Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo of using the ongoing controversy over the state’s debt profile to target former governor and Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Iroegbu made the allegation on Friday while speaking during an interview on national television
The controversy followed claims by the Anambra State Government that Obi left behind outstanding loans and other financial liabilities when he handed over power in 2014. The state government has published records which it says support its position.
Obi has rejected the allegations, maintaining that he left office without outstanding salaries, pensions, gratuities or debts owed to contractors for completed and certified projects. He has also released a handover document which his camp says shows a positive financial position for the state at the end of his tenure.
Reacting to the dispute, Iroegbu argued that Obi did not hand over directly to Soludo, noting that Willie Obiano succeeded Obi as governor before Soludo assumed office in 2022.
He said the records surrounding the transition were documented and challenged the Anambra State Government to publicly present evidence supporting its claims.
“We know this is a political witch-hunt by Governor Chukwuma Soludo. It’s unfortunate, and we call it the crab mentality,” Iroegbu said.
He added that the documents should be made available to the public rather than allowing the controversy to remain a political argument.
The Anambra State Government, however, has maintained that its claims are based on official records. It said outstanding external loans linked to previous administrations had a balance of about ₦127.4 billion as of June 30, 2026, while also citing other inherited liabilities.
The debt dispute has continued to generate reactions as Obi and the Soludo administration present competing accounts of Anambra’s financial position at the end of Obi’s tenure.
