(Peter Obi. Photo Credit: ICIR Nigeria)
Former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi has dismissed claims that his administration left behind debts, saying the allegations are completely false and that the current state government is promoting what he called phantom debts and fake stories about ecological funds.
Obi denied leaving inherited liabilities including a two billion naira ecological loan, contractor debts and unpaid salaries, gratuities and pensions.
He said his administration actually inherited several outstanding obligations but cleared over 35 billion naira in outstanding gratuities and arrears accumulated over previous years.
The state had no unpaid salaries, gratuities or pensions when he left office, he insisted.
Debunking the Phantom Debts and Ecological Loan Fallacy
My attention has been drawn to trending claims by the Anambra State Government that my administration left behind inherited debts, including a ₦2 billion ecological loan, contractor liabilities, and unpaid salaries,…
— Peter Obi (@PeterObi) September 15, 2026
He also denied owing contractors for completed projects that had been properly certified before he handed over power.
Regarding the disputed two billion naira ecological fund, Obi explained that the money was released about three months before his tenure ended to tackle erosion problems in Oko and Umuchiana.
He said he refused pressure to spend it before leaving office because government is continuous and the funds were earmarked for a specific project, so it should be left for his successor.
The money remained completely untouched in the bank account with over 2.13 billion naira when he left office.
Funds set aside for specific projects were not counted in the over 75 billion naira in savings his administration left behind.
Obi maintained his administration did not leave the financial liabilities being claimed and challenged anyone who could prove otherwise to do so.
He said if anyone could establish evidence to the contrary, he would stop campaigning.
