African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain Kenneth Okonkwo has said he was misled when he previously defended former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi against claims that his administration left behind debts and other financial obligations.
Okonkwo made the disclosure while speaking on TVC’s Sunday Politics, where he reflected on statements he made during the 2023 presidential campaign, when he served as a spokesperson for Obi.
He said information available to him at the time led him to defend Obi’s record, but that recent disclosures concerning Anambra State’s financial obligations had caused him to reconsider some of his earlier assertions.
Okonkwo changes his position
According to Okonkwo, he had previously told Nigerians that Obi left Anambra State without outstanding debts, unpaid salaries, pensions or gratuities.
He said he could no longer repeat those statements in light of information subsequently presented by the Anambra State Government.
Okonkwo explained that his earlier comments were based on the information he had received at the time, stressing that he was prepared to change his position when presented with what he considered new facts.
He specifically referred to the state government’s claim that eight external financing facilities were connected to projects undertaken during Obi’s administration, as well as allegations of salary arrears involving workers at the Anambra State Water Corporation.
Dispute over Anambra’s debt
The controversy surrounding Obi’s financial record began after officials of the Anambra State Government said the state was still servicing financial obligations associated with previous administrations.
The state government subsequently released records which it said showed eight external facilities linked to projects during Obi’s tenure, with a combined contracted value of approximately $123.77 million. According to the government’s figures, about $92.35 million remained outstanding as of June 30, 2026.
The government has argued that these obligations should be included when assessing the financial commitments inherited by subsequent administrations.
The claims have, however, been disputed by Obi.
Obi rejects the debt characterization
Obi has maintained that he did not personally borrow money or issue a bond on behalf of Anambra State during his tenure.
He argued that the $123.77 million figure combines the total value of multiyear development programmes with the amounts actually drawn and the balances outstanding at different periods.
According to Obi, several of the facilities were World Bank and International Fund for Agricultural Development programmes negotiated through the Federal Government, with participating states accessing the funds through subsidiary arrangements.
He also cited Debt Management Office figures which he said showed that Anambra’s external debt was approximately $18 million when he assumed office in 2006 and about $30 million when he left office in March 2014.
Obi has therefore challenged the state government to explain why the full contracted value of the development facilities is being described as debt left behind by his administration.
Okonkwo’s 2023 position
During the 2023 presidential election campaign, Okonkwo was one of the prominent voices defending Obi’s record.
He said his position at that time was based on the information available to him and that he had publicly encouraged Nigerians to verify the claims he was making.
However, reflecting on the controversy during his recent television appearance, Okonkwo said he was not prepared to continue defending a position if subsequent information contradicted what he had previously understood.
From campaign defence to scrutiny
Okonkwo also contrasted his political role during the 2023 election with his current position ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
He described his role in 2023 as being comparable to an “examination in chief”, while saying that the approach in 2027 would involve greater scrutiny or “cross-examination” of political records and claims.
The statement reflects a significant change in Okonkwo’s public position regarding some aspects of Obi’s record.
The controversy remains unresolved
Despite Okonkwo’s comments, the underlying dispute over Anambra’s debt records has not been settled by his statement.
The central disagreement remains whether the external financing facilities cited by the Anambra State Government should properly be characterized as debts incurred by Obi’s administration, and how much of the facilities had actually been drawn or remained outstanding when he left office in 2014.
The state government maintains that its records demonstrate outstanding obligations inherited from previous administrations, while Obi disputes the characterization and methodology used to attribute the entire $123.77 million figure to his tenure.
As the political debate ahead of the 2027 elections continues, the competing claims are likely to remain a subject of scrutiny, particularly regarding the distinction between loan approvals, amounts actually disbursed, repayment obligations and the debt position at the point of handover.