Soludo Faces Backlash as Anambra Debt Claims Against Peter Obi Spark Online Reactions

Anambra State Governor Charles Soludo has faced criticism on social media following the state government’s release of records detailing loans and other financial obligations it says were left by former governor Peter Obi.

The controversy followed a statement by the state Commissioner for Information and Value Reorientation, Dr Law Mefor, who said Obi’s administration left outstanding external loans and other arrears that subsequent governments inherited.

The government put the outstanding balance of the external loans at ₦127 billion, while also claiming that salaries, pensions and gratuities were owed to some workers and retirees.

It said the administration of Governor Soludo had so far cleared about ₦22 billion in inherited gratuity arrears owed to retired state and local government employees and teachers.

The state government subsequently shared its analysis of the alleged debts on its official X account, prompting a wave of reactions from users who questioned the timing and motive behind the disclosure.

Several commenters accused Soludo of turning the debt issue into a political dispute with his predecessor, particularly as Obi remains a presidential contender ahead of the 2027 election.

Some users questioned why the figures were being presented using current exchange rates, arguing that the value of loans and expenditures incurred during Obi’s tenure should be considered in the economic context of the period when they were contracted and spent.

Others challenged the consistency of the figures released by the state government and demanded clearer documentation to support the claims. Some commenters, however, argued that Obi should address the allegations and account for the financial obligations attributed to his administration.

The controversy comes shortly after the Anambra Government and Obi offered sharply different accounts of the state’s finances when he left office in 2014. While the government says it inherited outstanding obligations, Obi has rejected the allegations and maintained that his administration cleared inherited arrears before handing over power.

The latest dispute has therefore expanded beyond Anambra’s debt records into a broader political argument over Obi’s record as governor and the standards of accountability expected of presidential candidates ahead of 2027.