A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kenneth Okonkwo, has said he was misled when he defended former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi against claims that his administration left behind debts and other financial obligations.

Okonkwo, who served as Obi's spokesman during the 2023 presidential campaign and is now spokesman for the campaign council of ADC presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, made the remarks on Sunday Politics on Television Continental (TVC).

He said recent disclosures by the Anambra State Government meant he could no longer repeat some of the claims he made in Obi's defence, adding that he is prepared to change his position whenever fresh facts emerge.

"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 telling Nigerians during the 2023 campaign that Obi left no debt and no unpaid salaries, pensions or gratuities. "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," he said.

Okonkwo pointed to claims by the Anambra State Government that Obi's administration obtained eight loans and that workers at the state-owned water corporation were owed salaries and arrears. "The fact is 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 remarks come amid a dispute between Obi and the Anambra State Government over the state's debt profile.

The row began after the state's Commissioner for Finance, Izuchukwu Okafor, said Anambra was still servicing loans obtained by previous administrations, including those of Obi and former Governor Willie Obiano.

Obi rejected the claim, insisting he left office with no outstanding debts, no unpaid salaries, pensions or contractor payments, and N2.1 billion in an ecological fund.

The state government countered that Obi left $123.77 million in debt and said it had no evidence of the ecological fund. It later released documents on N363.38 million in salary arrears it said were inherited from his administration.

Okonkwo also revisited his earlier defence of Obi's family over claims about a N135 million wristwatch allegedly worn by a son of President Bola Tinubu.

"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?" he said.

Explaining his changed approach, he said his role would be different in 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, though his first tenure was interrupted by an impeachment in November 2006. He returned after a court overturned the impeachment and handed over to Obiano on March 17, 2014.


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