The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has called on former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race, following allegations that his administration left behind external debt and salary arrears.

The council, in a statement issued on Monday by its spokesperson, Dele Alake, accused Obi of misrepresenting his financial record as governor and challenged his long-standing claim that he left Anambra State without a debt burden.

According to the APC PCC, the Anambra State Government recently disclosed that Obi spent about $4.05 billion, equivalent to N5.4 trillion, during his eight years in office and contracted $123.77 million in external loans.

The council said the state government also identified eight external borrowings for projects covering malaria control, erosion management, education and healthcare which were outstanding when Obi left office on March 17, 2014.

It added that subsequent administrations, including that of Governor Chukwuma Soludo, continued to service the obligations.

The APC PCC acknowledged that borrowing could be justified when used for development, but questioned the claims of fiscal prudence associated with Obi’s tenure.

The statement also alleged that Obi’s administration failed to pay workers’ salaries as and when due.

As evidence, the council cited a memo dated April 25, 2006, reportedly written by Obi’s then Chief of Staff, Chuks Ileogbunam, appealing to the governor to pay N15 million in monthly salaries owed to workers of the Anambra State Water Corporation.

According to the APC PCC, the memo warned that the affected workers could protest at the Governor’s Office over the unpaid salaries.

The council further claimed that Obi had promised during his campaign to resign as governor if there was any instance of workers not being paid as and when due.

It said the alleged existence of salary arrears and external liabilities contradicted Obi’s public claims about his record in office.

The APC PCC also criticised Obi over a recent solidarity visit to a political figure facing an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) trial, alleging that the visit raised questions about the former governor’s judgment.

The council urged Obi to “purge himself of his lies” and seek forgiveness from the people of Anambra State.

It further called on him to honour what it described as his previous pledge to quit the presidential race if it was established that his administration left liabilities for the state.

Alake signed the statement as spokesperson of the APC Presidential Campaign Council on September 21, 2026.