Former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi has debunked the claim by the current administration that he left a $123.7 million debt, describing the assertion as false and listing what his government inherited and met on the ground.
Obi, who governed Anambra from 2006 to 2014 and is the 2027 presidential aspirant of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), said the claim credited to the state government was part of a pattern of misrepresentation. In a statement carried by Premium Times Nigeria, Obi said his administration met a state with substantial infrastructure and financial commitments, not a debt burden.
"The claim that we left $123.7 million debt is not only false but does not reflect the reality on the ground," Obi said. "When we exited office, Anambra State had a robust infrastructure base, including over 300 primary and secondary schools, several general hospitals and specialist centres, and a road network that had been expanded across the state."
Obi listed specific projects and assets his administration handed over, including the completion of the Awka-Owerri road, the construction of several rural health centres, and the establishment of the Anambra State University teaching hospital complex. He said these projects represented significant capital investment and were functional at the time of handover.
The former governor also said his government left behind a budgetary framework that prioritised education and health, and that the state's internal revenue generation had been improved through digital tax platforms and improved administrative efficiency. He said the figures credited to his tenure were being used to score political points ahead of the 2027 general elections.
"What is being presented as debt is actually a catalogue of projects and investments our administration left behind," Obi added. "We met a state with obligations, but we also left a state with institutions, schools, hospitals and roads that the next government could build on, not one that needed to start from a zero base."
The Anambra State Government had previously stated that Obi's exit left a $123.7 million debt profile, arguing that the figure reflected unpaid contracts and obligations. Obi's response directly challenges that assessment, saying the state's financial position at the time of handover was healthier than presented.
Political analysts said the exchange highlights the growing tension between the opposition and the incumbent administration as the 2027 election cycle approaches. The debate over inherited fiscal positions is likely to feature prominently in campaign rhetoric across the southeast and beyond.
Obi, a former banker and chartered accountant, has frequently cited his record in Anambra as a benchmark for his competence to manage national finances. This latest rebuttal adds to a series of engagements where he has defended his governorship record against criticisms from both within and outside his party.
The Anambra State Government was not immediately available for comment on Obi's latest statement at the time of filing this report.