Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the New Democratic Congress (NDC), has publicly denied any disagreement with Anambra State Governor Charles Soludo and rejected financial claims made against him by the state government. The former governor also stated he has no intention of seeking any governorship position again, even if the Constitution were amended to allow it.
Speaking on Thursday, September 24, 2026, Obi addressed two controversies that had generated public debate: his relationship with Soludo and the debt allegations tied to his tenure as Anambra governor. He said he had held back in recent days while mourning his late elder brother and friend, Chief Okey Ezeibe.
Obi Denies Rift With Soludo, Rules Out Governorship Bid
Obi stated, "I wish to assure the public that I have no disagreement with my dear elder brother, Governor Soludo, or with any governor in Nigeria. 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."
The clarification comes amid speculation about a fallout between the two political figures. Obi's statement was reported by The Punch, and he used the opportunity to set the record straight on his relationship with Soludo and other governors across the country.
Obi Challenges Anambra Debt Figures
The Anambra State Government had claimed that eight external borrowings linked to projects during Obi's administration carried a combined contracted value of $123.77 million, with $92.35 million still outstanding as of June 30, 2026, based on figures from the Debt Management Office (DMO).
Obi rejected this characterisation, arguing that the facilities were not conventional commercial loans he personally arranged. He explained that they were primarily World Bank and International Fund for Agricultural Development programmes negotiated by the Federal Government, with states accessing the funds through subsidiary arrangements.
He also challenged how the figures were compiled, saying the government had merged the amount approved, the amount drawn, and the outstanding balance into a single number, which he described as "an incorrect application of public-sector accounting."
DMO Records Show Lower Debt Figures
According to TCV News, Obi cited DMO records showing that Anambra's external debt was about $18 million when he took office in March 2006 and had risen to roughly $30 million by March 2014 when he left. He questioned how the state could supposedly have inherited $123.77 million from him.
"The Anambra State Government must therefore clarify how a state whose recorded external debt was about US$30 million in March 2014 and US$45.15 million in December 2014 could supposedly have inherited US$123.77 million from Peter Obi, who left office in March of that same year," he said.
Obi also noted that the then DMO Director-General, Abraham Nwankwo, had publicly acknowledged at his farewell ceremony that Obi was the only state governor in ten years who had never approached him for a loan facility. He added that his administration left no unpaid salaries, gratuities, pensions, or outstanding payments to verified contractors and suppliers.
Call for Free Campaigning Ahead of 2027
Beyond the debt dispute, Obi used the statement to appeal to governors across Nigeria to allow presidential candidates and other political contestants to campaign freely in their states regardless of party affiliation. He urged that voters be left to decide who should represent them in the 2027 general elections.
Obi was ratified as the presidential candidate of the New Democratic Congress on May 29, 2026, following his resignation from the African Democratic Congress on May 2, 2026.
Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that the Anambra State Government publicly challenged Peter Obi over campaign promises he allegedly made while serving as governor. The state cited a 2006 letter from Obi's own Chief of Staff as evidence that workers went unpaid under his watch. Obi had pledged to quit the presidential race if proven he left Anambra in debt, the government recalled.
