KENNETH OKONKWO CHANGES POSITION ON OBI’S ANAMBRA DEBT RECORD

African Democratic Congress chieftain Kenneth Okonkwo has changed his position on former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi’s financial record, saying he was misled when he previously defended the former governor against claims of outstanding debts and unpaid obligations.

Okonkwo, who served as Obi’s spokesman during the 2023 presidential campaign, made the disclosure while appearing on Television Continental’s Sunday Politics. He said he could no longer repeat some of the claims he made in Obi’s defence after recent disclosures by the Anambra State Government.

During the 2023 campaign, Okonkwo had said Obi left office without debts, unpaid salaries, pensions or gratuities. He now says his position changed after information emerged about loans and salary arrears allegedly linked to the former administration.

The Anambra State Government has said eight external financing facilities connected to projects undertaken during Obi’s tenure had a combined contracted value of $123.77m, with $92.35m outstanding as of June 30, 2026.

Obi has rejected the description of the $123.77m as debt he left behind, arguing that the figures combine different categories of multilateral development financing. He has also maintained that he did not borrow from financial institutions or issue bonds on behalf of Anambra during his tenure.

The former governor has also maintained that his administration left office without unpaid salaries, pensions, gratuities or verified debts to contractors. The state government, however, has presented documents relating to salary arrears which it says were inherited from his administration.

Okonkwo said his approach to Obi would now be different ahead of the 2027 election, explaining that while he campaigned for Obi in 2023, he would subject his record to greater scrutiny going forward.

The comments come amid an ongoing dispute between Obi and the Anambra State Government over the state’s debt profile and financial obligations associated with previous administrations.