African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain Kenneth Okonkwo says he was “misled” when he defended former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi against claims that his administration left debts and unpaid obligations. Okonkwo said he could no longer repeat his earlier assurances after fresh disclosures by the Anambra State Government.
Key Highlights
- Kenneth Okonkwo says he was misled when he defended Peter Obi’s record in Anambra.
- He made the remarks during an appearance on TVC’s Sunday Politics programme.
- Anambra officials say loans linked to projects undertaken during Obi’s tenure remain under repayment; Obi disputes the state’s characterization of the facilities.
- Obi has maintained that he left office without unpaid salaries, pensions or certified contractor debts.
- Documents on a ₦363.38 million arrears payment schedule do not by themselves establish when all the underlying arrears were incurred.
- Okonkwo said he would scrutinise Obi’s record in 2027 rather than defend him as he did during the 2023 campaign.
Okonkwo Revisits His 2023 Defence of Obi
Okonkwo, who served as a spokesman for Obi during the 2023 presidential campaign, said he had previously told Nigerians that Obi left office without debts, unpaid salaries, pensions or gratuities.
“You know me, I’m a very passionate person in whatever I believe in. Let me tell you because I was misled,” he said on TVC’s Sunday Politics programme.
He recalled saying during the campaign that Obi “was not owing anything” and had not left unpaid salaries, pensions or gratuities.
“There was a time I told Nigerians that Peter Obi was not owing anything, did not leave any debt, he was not owing any salary. No gratuity. No pension. And I said, go and verify,” Okonkwo said.
He added: “I’m not a man that stands on my own misunderstanding. When I see the facts, I agree.”
Anambra Debt Claims Remain Disputed
Okonkwo cited statements by the Anambra State Government that eight external facilities associated with projects undertaken during Obi’s administration had a combined contracted value of $123.77 million. The government said $92.35 million remained outstanding as of June 30, 2026, based on Debt Management Office figures.
Obi has rejected the description of the facilities as loans he personally obtained for the state, saying he did not approach a financial institution to borrow funds or issue a bond on Anambra’s behalf. He has also maintained that he left office without unpaid salaries, pensions, gratuities or certified contractor debts. Channels Television reported Obi’s response to the state’s $123.77 million debt claim.
The state has also released records concerning salary arrears for workers of the defunct Anambra State Water Corporation and ANSEPA, including a ₦363.381 million instalment scheduled for 2026 under a 2024 settlement. Those records document the settlement and payment schedule; on their own, they do not establish when every underlying arrear was incurred.
Okonkwo Says His Approach Will Change in 2027
Okonkwo said the state government had reported loans and salary arrears at the water corporation, and that he could not continue making the same assurances he had made during the 2023 campaign.
His comments come amid the continuing disagreement between Obi and the Anambra State Government over the state’s debt profile and financial obligations. Obi has cited a ₦2.1 billion ecological fund he said he left behind, while the state government has said it has no evidence of the fund.
Okonkwo said his role in the next election would be different from his role in 2023. “That’s why I said in 2023, I campaigned for them as the examination in chief. In 2027, it’s going to be a cross-examination,” he said.
Read Also:
- Anambra Releases N363.38m Salary Arrears Records, Renews Dispute With Peter Obi
- Peter Obi Says He Left Anambra Without Unpaid Salaries, Pensions Or Certified Contractor Debts
- Peter Obi’s Anambra Legacy Under Microscope: The Debt, Cash And Projects He Left Behind
For more political updates, follow us on X.
Obi served as governor of Anambra State from March 2006 to March 2014, with his first tenure interrupted by an impeachment in November 2006. He returned to office after a court overturned the impeachment and later handed over to Willie Obiano.
