The All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council has urged the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race over claims by the Anambra State Government concerning loans and liabilities incurred during his tenure as governor.

The council made the call in a statement dated September 21 and signed by its spokesman, Dele Alake, arguing that recent disclosures by the state government contradicted Obi’s longstanding claims about his financial management of Anambra.

The development followed a challenge by Obi to the Anambra State Government to provide evidence that his administration left unpaid debts, salaries, pensions or contractor obligations when he left office in 2014.

Obi had said he would discontinue his presidential campaign if the state government could establish that his administration left such liabilities.

The Anambra State Government subsequently released documents which it said showed that eight external loans, totalling approximately $123.77 million, were obtained during Obi’s tenure.

According to the state government, about $92.35 million remained outstanding as of June 30, 2026. It said the loans were tied to projects covering areas including malaria control, education, healthcare, erosion management and other development programmes.

The state government has maintained that it does not oppose borrowing for development but said the records challenge Obi’s claim that he left office without liabilities.

Obi, however, has continued to maintain that his administration left no unpaid salaries, pensions, gratuities or properly certified contractor obligations. He has also said his government cleared more than N35 billion in historical arrears.

Against the backdrop of the conflicting claims, the APC-PCC called on Obi to honour the condition he set when challenging the state government to substantiate its allegations.

“Indeed, if Peter Obi has any honour, he must resign from the 2027 presidential race forthwith, in keeping with his promise to end his run if it is proven that his administration left behind liabilities in Anambra,” Alake said.

The campaign council also cited the Anambra government’s claim that Obi’s administration spent about $4.05 billion during its eight years in office while contracting the external loans.

It further alleged that the administration did not always pay some categories of workers promptly, referring to a memo dated April 25, 2006, which it said was written by the then Chief of Staff, Chuks Ileogbunam, concerning salaries owed to workers of the Anambra State Water Corporation.

According to the APC-PCC, the memo requested Obi’s approval for N15 million in monthly salary payments to prevent the affected workers from protesting over unpaid wages.

The council quoted the memo as appealing to Obi to consider the welfare of the workers and their families.

The APC-PCC argued that the episode was inconsistent with a campaign promise it attributed to Obi that he would resign as governor if workers were not paid when due.

The council also criticised Obi over a recent solidarity visit to an unnamed person facing trial by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

It alleged that the case involved unexplained wealth and corruption, although the statement did not identify the individual or provide further details about the matter.

The APC-PCC urged Obi to apologise to the people of Anambra instead of proceeding with his presidential campaign, while maintaining its criticism of his record as governor.

However, the dispute over Obi’s financial record remains contested, with the Anambra State Government relying on external loan records to argue that liabilities were incurred during his administration, while Obi maintains that he left office without outstanding salaries, pensions, gratuities or contractor debts and has challenged his critics to prove otherwise.