Anambra Dares Obi to Quit Presidential Race, Releases Salary Arrears Document

The Anambra State Government has challenged former governor Peter Obi to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race if it is established that his administration left unpaid workers’ salaries and other financial liabilities.

The government made the challenge on Tuesday while releasing a 2006 letter allegedly signed by Chuks Iloegbunam, who served as Obi’s Chief of Staff, concerning salary arrears owed workers of the Anambra State Water Corporation.

The letter, dated April 25, 2006, appealed to Obi to address the corporation’s unpaid salaries, stating that workers had last received their salaries in February.

It also said the corporation’s monthly salary bill was about N15 million and urged the governor to include the organisation among government agencies funded through subventions to ensure regular payment of workers.

The document referenced a campaign pledge attributed to Obi that he would resign as governor if workers were not paid as and when due.

The Anambra Government said the document contradicted Obi’s recent claim that he left office in 2014 without outstanding salary, pension or gratuity obligations.

The development is part of an escalating dispute between Obi and the administration of Governor Chukwuma Soludo over the financial position of Anambra at the end of Obi’s tenure.

The state government has alleged that Obi left outstanding external loans, as well as salary, pension and gratuity arrears. It said eight external borrowing facilities contracted during his administration had an outstanding balance of N127.4 billion as of June 30, 2026.

Obi has rejected the allegations, insisting that he left office without unpaid salaries, pensions, gratuities or obligations to contractors for completed and certified projects.

The former governor said his administration cleared more than N35 billion in historical gratuities and arrears. He also challenged the state government to provide evidence that he left financial liabilities, pledging to stop his presidential campaign if the claim was proven.

The Anambra Government, however, maintained that some legacy arrears remained after Obi left office and said the current administration had been settling them.

The authenticity of the newly released 2006 letter could not immediately be independently verified, while the reported signatory’s response was not included in the state government’s statement.

The dispute comes as political parties and candidates intensify preparations for the 2027 presidential election.