Former Anambra State governor and NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi has asked the Anambra State Government to explain how it arrived at a claim that his administration left behind $123.77 million in external debt.
In a post on his official X account on Friday, September 25, 2026, Obi cited Debt Management Office (DMO) figures which, according to him, put Anambra’s external debt at about $30 million in March 2014, when he left office.
Obi argued that the $123.77 million figure represented the original value of eight multilateral development facilities and should not be treated as the outstanding debt at the time he handed over to his successor, Willie Obiano.
He explained that the facilities involved development programmes supported by institutions including the World Bank and the International Fund for Agricultural Development through the Federal Government.
According to Obi, the amount approved for a project, the amount eventually drawn and the balance outstanding were different figures that should not be conflated.
He also maintained that he did not personally approach financial institutions to obtain loans or issue bonds on behalf of Anambra State while he was governor.
Obi further cited former DMO Director-General Abraham Nwankwo, whom he said had described him as the only governor who did not approach the DMO for approval to obtain a loan.
Challenging the state government’s claim, Obi said:
“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.”
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