The Anambra State Government has challenged the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race over allegations that his administration left unpaid salary arrears in the state.
The state government made the challenge in a statement posted on its official X account on Tuesday, accusing the former governor of failing to keep promises concerning Anambra’s debt profile and timely payment of workers’ salaries.
It recalled that Obi had pledged to withdraw from the 2027 presidential contest if it was proven that he left Anambra State in debt.
The government also alleged that Obi had, while campaigning for governor, promised to resign if workers were not paid their salaries as and when due.
According to the state government, both commitments were breached.
“Obi vowed to quit the presidential race if proven he left Anambra in debt. As governor, he vowed to resign if workers weren’t paid on time. He broke both. He left office in 2014 with heavier arrears,” the government stated.
To support its claim on unpaid salaries, the state government released a letter dated April 25, 2006, purportedly signed by Chuks Iloegbunam, then Chief of Staff to Obi.
The letter, titled “GUBERNATORIAL PREROGATIVE,” made a special appeal to Obi to settle salary arrears owed to workers of the Anambra State Water Corporation.
The letter listed three reasons for the appeal, including that the corporation’s monthly salary bill was about N15 million and that its workers had last been paid in February.
The memo appealed to Obi to include the Water Corporation among government parastatals paid through subventions to prevent workers from repeatedly visiting the Governor’s Office over unpaid salaries.
“Since it is Your Excellency’s unchanging desire to achieve a better future for our children and children’s children, please, Sir, bear in mind that officials of the Water Corporation also have children who are looking to your compassionate leadership,” the letter read in part.
“The monthly salary of the Water Corporation comes to something around N15 million every month. Because you have a very busy schedule, I appeal to you to please include the Water Corporation in the league of Government parastatals that are paid through subventions.
“In this way, the workers will not come to Your Excellency’s office every month to distract your attention on account of unpaid salaries,” it added.
The development is part of the ongoing dispute between Obi and the Anambra State Government over the former governor’s financial record and liabilities allegedly left behind after he left office in 2014.
Obi has previously denied owing salaries, pensions or gratuities when he left office, while challenging the state government to provide evidence to support claims to the contrary.
The salary-arrears dispute has also featured in recent statements by the APC Presidential Campaign Council, which cited the same 2006 memo in its criticism of Obi’s record as governor.
