Anambra Govt Drags Peter Obi Over 2006 Memo, Demands Exit from Presidential Race

AWKA, Nigeria—The political feud between the Anambra State Government and former Governor Peter Obi escalated today after a 2006 internal memo emerged online, prompting allies of Governor Charles Soludo to renew calls for Obi to drop his presidential ambitions.

The document, shared via the verified X (formerly Twitter) account of the Anambra State New Media, marks the latest salvo in an ongoing battle over Obi’s governance record during his eight-year tenure from 2006 to 2014.

While the Soludo administration has repeatedly alleged that Obi left behind significant debts and liabilities, Obi has consistently countered those claims with documentary evidence of financial health.

The 2006 Memo Exposed

The newly surfaced document, dated April 25, 2006, is a memo allegedly authored and signed by Chuks Iloegbunam, who served as Chief of Staff during the early months of Obi’s administration.

In the memo, titled “GUBERNATORIAL PREROGATIVE,” Iloegbunam made a passionate appeal to the newly inaugurated governor to resolve unpaid salary arrears for staff of the Anambra State Water Corporation, which amounted to roughly ₦15 million monthly.

Significantly, the Chief of Staff reminded Obi of a key campaign pledge, noting that the unpaid salaries directly conflicted with Obi’s public manifesto.

“Fundamentally, your campaign manifesto pledges that Your Excellency will resign if there is any case where workers are not paid as at when due,” the 2006 memo reads. “Water Corporation workers were last paid in February. Please rectify this anomaly so that you can forge ahead with the good work you are doing.”

Iloegbunam urged Obi to place the Water Corporation under regular government subventions so workers would not have to “come to Your Excellency’s office every month to distract your attention on account of unpaid salaries.”

Escalating Political Warfare

State officials are leveraging the 20-year-old document to challenge Obi’s long-standing reputation for fiscal discipline and prompt payment of civil servants.

Soludo’s camp is now publicly demanding that Obi step down from his ongoing presidential pursuits.

At the time of filing this report, Peter Obi and his media team have not issued an official response to the document or the renewed calls for his resignation.