PHOTO: PETER OBI RELEASES HANDOVER DOCUMENT TO COUNTER ANAMBRA GOVT’S DEBT CLAIMS

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By ‘Sefiu Ajape

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has released his handover document in response to claims by the Anambra State Government that his administration left behind loans and other financial liabilities.

Obi’s response followed the release of the handover note, which contained the financial position of the state at the end of his administration.

The Interim National Coordinator of the Obedient Movement, Dr Yinusa Tanko, published the document dated March 17, 2024, on Wednesday.

The document provided a summary of Anambra State’s financial position as of the close of business on that day, showing a net positive balance of over ₦86 billion.

Hotjist earlier reported that the Anambra State Government said it was still servicing loans obtained by previous administrations, including those of former governors Peter Obi and Willie Obiano.

The state Commissioner for Finance, Izuchukwu Okafor, disclosed this on Sunday while speaking on the Ndi Anambra podcast released by the state government’s New Media team.

Okafor said the inherited loans remained part of the financial obligations of the current administration, despite the Soludo government’s decision not to obtain fresh commercial bank loans since assuming office.

Obi, however, rejected the claim and challenged the Soludo administration to provide evidence to substantiate its position. He also said he would end his campaign for the 2027 presidency if the allegation could be proven.

The Anambra State Government subsequently disputed Obi’s claim that he left office without outstanding debts or other unpaid financial obligations.

The government maintained that its records showed that some liabilities incurred during Obi’s administration, as well as obligations inherited by it, remained unpaid.

In a statement titled “Gov Peter Obi and Record of Public Debt in Anambra: Facts Beyond Propaganda and Lies,” the Commissioner for Information and Value Reorientation, Law Mefor, described Obi’s position on the state’s debt profile as false.

Mefor said eight external loans linked to projects implemented during Obi’s administration, or inherited by it, were still outstanding.

According to him, the loans had a combined balance of $92.35 million, which the state government said was equivalent to ₦127.37 billion as of June 30, 2026.

The state government therefore maintained that Obi’s administration left behind loans and other financial liabilities.

handover document