“Show Us the Receipts!” — Presidency Traps Peter Obi Over Anambra’s Unpaid Debt Controversy

The political scene in Nigeria just got hotter!

A massive showdown has broken out between former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi and the current Anambra State Government over state debts—and the Presidency has jumped right into the middle of the ring.

The big question everyone is asking today: Will Peter Obi actually honor his promise to step out of the presidential race?

How It All Started: “I Left Zero Debt!”

For years, Peter Obi has built his political reputation on one major claim: he did not leave a single Naira of debt when he stepped down as Governor of Anambra State.

In fact, Obi doubled down on his claim earlier this week, challenging anyone to prove him wrong with a bold promise:

“If anybody can prove that I left behind state debts, I will stop campaigning immediately!” — Peter Obi

Obi insisted his administration wiped out over ₦35 billion in old arrears and left behind a clean financial slate, including over ₦2.13 billion untouched in a First Bank account specifically meant for ecological erosion control in Oko and Umuchiana.

Anambra Government Drops Counter-Receipts

Governor Charles Soludo’s administration was quick to fire back, claiming Obi’s financial story doesn’t add up.

Anambra State Commissioner for Information, Law Mefor, released an official statement claiming that the First Bank account Obi mentioned was actually a regular state revenue account—not a dedicated ecological fund.

According to Mefor, the state government pulled certified bank records dating back to 2011 and found no record of the ₦2.13 billion balance Obi claimed to have left behind.

The state government further alleged that Obi’s administration left behind:

• Unpaid pensions and gratuities
• Owed salaries for teachers and Water Corporation staff
• Outstanding contractor liabilities
• An unaddressed ₦2 billion ecological fund issue

The Presidency Steps In: “Will He Quit Now?”

Seeing an opening, President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, took to social media platform X to call out the presidential hopeful.

Onanuga pointed out that the Anambra State Government has now confronted Obi with raw numbers, leaving the ball squarely in his court.

“Peter Obi claimed he left Anambra with a clean slate of debt and even threatened to quit the presidential race if his claims were proven otherwise. Now the state government has confronted him with facts. Will he follow through on his threat by quitting?” — Bayo Onanuga