RismadarVoice Reporters
September 25, 2026
Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate Peter Obi has urged Nigerians and political leaders to focus on the country’s economic hardship and other pressing challenges rather than what he described as needless political distractions, as he again disputed claims surrounding Anambra State’s external debt.
Obi, in a statement on Friday, also dismissed suggestions of a rift with Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo, whom he described as his “dear elder brother.”
“I wish to assure the public that I have no disagreement with my dear elder brother, Governor Soludo, or with any governor in Nigeria,” Obi said.
The former Anambra governor said he had remained silent in recent days following the death of his friend and elder brother, Chief Okey Ezeibe, but decided to respond to issues that had dominated public discussion.
Obi stressed that he had no interest in returning as governor and said his political focus was now on national issues.
“I am not seeking the office of governor in any state, and I will not seek that position again, even if the Constitution is amended,” he said.
He also appealed to governors to support presidential candidates of their choice while allowing other candidates to campaign freely in their states.
According to him, voters should ultimately be allowed to determine who they want to lead them.
OBI DISPUTES ANAMBRA DEBT CLAIM
Addressing the controversy over Anambra’s debt profile, Obi rejected the characterisation of approximately $123.77 million in external development facilities as loans he personally left behind.
The Anambra State Government had said eight external facilities associated with projects during Obi’s administration had an original value of about $123.77 million, with approximately $92.35 million outstanding as of June 30, 2026.
Obi, however, maintained that he did not approach any financial institution to borrow money or issue bonds on behalf of Anambra State during his tenure.
He said the facilities being discussed were largely World Bank and International Fund for Agricultural Development programmes negotiated by the Federal Government, with participating states accessing funds through subsidiary arrangements.
According to Obi, the total amount approved for a development programme, the amount actually drawn by a state and the outstanding balance at a particular time should be treated as separate figures.
He argued that combining those figures and presenting the resulting $123.77 million as loans he left behind amounted to an incorrect representation of the state’s financial position.
Obi cited Debt Management Office figures which, according to him, showed Anambra’s external debt at approximately $18 million when he assumed office in March 2006, about $30 million when he left in March 2014 and $45.15 million by December 2014.
He therefore called on the Anambra State Government to explain how the $123.77 million figure being associated with his administration reconciled with those debt figures.
‘I LEFT OVER $150M’
Obi further maintained that he left more than $150 million in dollar-denominated investments for Anambra State when he handed over in March 2014.
He claimed the investments could have generated approximately $10 million annually if retained.
According to his calculations, retaining the funds and their returns could have increased their value to approximately $335 million, from which the state could have settled the disputed $92.35 million outstanding amount and retained about $242 million.
These calculations are Obi’s claims in the continuing dispute over the financial position of Anambra State at the end of his administration.
The former governor maintained that he left Anambra in a strong financial position and said he would not continue trading words over his tenure.
Obi said his attention would instead remain on the economic and social challenges confronting Nigerians, which he described as the central reason for his presidential ambition.
