The Anambra State Government has challenged the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race, accusing him of breaking key promises made during his time as governor.
The state government made the challenge in a statement posted on its official X account on Tuesday, alleging that Obi had failed to keep his promises regarding Anambra’s debt profile and the timely payment of workers’ salaries.
According to the government, Obi had vowed to quit the presidential race if it was proven that he left Anambra in debt. It also claimed that he had pledged while in office to resign if workers were not paid their salaries on time.
The government alleged that both promises were broken, claiming that Obi left office in 2014 with salary arrears owed to workers.
“Obi vowed to quit the presidential race if proven he left Anambra in debt. As governor, he vowed to resign if workers weren’t paid on time. He broke both. He left office in 2014 with heavier arrears,” the statement said.
To support its claim on salary arrears, the state government released a letter dated April 25, 2006, allegedly signed by Chuks Iloegbunam, who was then Obi’s Chief of Staff.
The letter, titled “Gubernatorial Prerogative,” made a special appeal to Obi to settle salary arrears owed to workers of the Anambra State Water Corporation.
It stated that the corporation’s monthly salary bill was about N15 million and that its workers had last received their salaries in February.
The letter appealed to the governor to include the Water Corporation among government parastatals receiving subventions, arguing that this would prevent workers from repeatedly visiting the governor’s office over unpaid salaries.
The Anambra Government’s claims come as Obi prepares to contest the 2027 presidential election under the NDC.
