2027: Kenneth Okonkwo changes position on Obi’s Anambra debt record

A former Labour Party presidential campaign spokesperson, chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, Kenneth Okonkwo. Credit: X | Kenneth Okonkwo

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.

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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.