Tuesday, September 29, 2026 - Kenneth Okonkwo, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, has said he was misled when he previously defended former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi against claims that his administration left debts and other financial obligations behind.
Okonkwo, who served as Obi’s spokesman during the 2023
presidential campaign, said he could no longer repeat some of the claims he
made in defence of the former governor following recent disclosures by the
Anambra State Government.
He made the disclosure on Sunday during Sunday Politics, a
programme on Television Continental.
Okonkwo, who is now spokesman for the presidential campaign
council of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, the ADC presidential candidate
for the 2027 election, said he was prepared to change his position when fresh
facts emerged.
“You know me, I’m a very passionate person in whatever I
believe in. Let me tell you, because I was misled,” he said.
He recalled that during the 2023 presidential campaign, he
had told Nigerians that Obi did not leave any debt or unpaid salaries, pensions
or gratuities when he left office.
“There was a time I told Nigerians that Peter Obi was not
owing anything, did not leave any debt, he was not owing any salary. No
gratuity. No pension. And I said, go and verify.
“I’m not a man that stands on my own misunderstanding. When
I see the facts, I agree.”
Okonkwo said the Anambra State Government subsequently
claimed that Obi’s administration obtained eight loans and that workers at the
state-owned water corporation were owed salaries and arrears.
“The fact is, the Anambra State Government said he borrowed
eight loans.
“The fact is that Anambra State said that at the water
corporation, he was owing workers there all the salaries, all the arrears. I
cannot say the same thing that I said about Peter Obi in 2023,” he said.
The comments came amid an ongoing dispute between Obi and
the Anambra State Government over the state’s debt profile and financial
obligations.
The state government has said eight external financing
facilities associated with projects undertaken during Obi’s tenure had a
combined contracted value of $123.77m, with $92.35m outstanding as of June 30,
2026.
Obi, however, has rejected the description of the $123.77m
as debt he left behind, saying the figures combine different categories of
multilateral development financing.
He also said Anambra’s external debt was about $30m when he
left office in March 2014, citing DMO figures.
Okonkwo also referred to his previous defence of Obi’s
family against claims concerning the cost of a wristwatch allegedly worn by a
son of President Bola Tinubu.
“There was a time they figured out that Tinubu’s son was
wearing a watch worth up to N135 million,” he said.
“I ran out on television and I said nobody from Peter Obi’s
family can ever wear such a thing when people are dying in poverty. I stuck my
reputation on it. Can I still say that today?”
Explaining the change in his approach, Okonkwo said his role
in scrutinising Obi would be different during the 2027 election.
“That’s why I said in 2023, I campaigned for them as the
examination in chief. In 2027, it’s going to be a cross-examination,” he said.
Obi was governor of Anambra State from March 2006 to March
2014, with his first tenure interrupted by impeachment in November 2006. He
returned to office after a court overturned the impeachment and handed over to
Willie Obiano on March 17, 2014.
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