Peter Obi, the presidential candidate for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has strongly denied authoring a letter that recently went viral on social media. The purported letter, addressed to His Majesty Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Ugochukwu Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha, touched upon sensitive political and financial matters in Anambra State, specifically challenging claims about debts left behind from Obi's time as governor.
The controversial letter, dated September 19, 2026, bore the title “The Future of Ndigbo is Bleak” and called for an open examination of Anambra's financial records. It stated, “Let the records be opened. Let the books be examined. Let every legitimate question be answered with evidence.” This comes as Obi has been locked in a public dispute with the current Anambra State Government over allegations that his administration left behind significant unpaid loans.
Obi has consistently maintained his stance, asserting that he left office on March 17, 2014, without any outstanding salaries, pensions, or unpaid dues for completed contractor projects. He even declared he would halt his campaign if concrete evidence contradicted his claims. However, the Anambra State Government countered this on Wednesday, asserting that eight external loan facilities taken out during Obi's governorship remained unsettled when he left office. The state government cited figures from the Debt Management Office, stating that as of June 30, 2026, the outstanding balance on these loans stood at a staggering N127.4 billion, calculated using the official exchange rate.
Reacting to the circulation of the fake letter, Peter Obi issued a swift denial on Saturday. He described the document as entirely false, malicious, and a fabrication intended to mislead the public. Obi specifically pointed out that the signature on the letter was a complete forgery. “My attention has been drawn to a fake letter circulating on social media, purportedly written by me to His Majesty, Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Ugochukwu Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha, concerning political and financial matters in Anambra State,” Obi stated in his official response. He urged both the public and the media to disregard the "spurious publication."
Obi emphasized that his campaign and focus remain fixed on pressing national issues, including development and accountability, rather than engaging with fabricated narratives. “My focus remains steadfastly on issues of national development, accountability, and building a better future for our people – never on cheap fabrications,” he added. This denial aims to distance Obi from a document that could potentially complicate his political messaging and his ongoing public debate regarding Anambra's financial legacy.