All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for the 2025 Anambra election, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, is at the center of a political uproar following a viral video showing him confronted outside the Transcorp Hilton Hotel by men accusing him of owing ₦1 billion.
The footage, widely circulated on social media, captured Ukachukwu, his wife, and young son being approached by a group who claimed the debt was linked to financing his governorship bid. The confrontation has intensified already heated rivalries ahead of the November 8 polls.
Supporters of incumbent Governor Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) quickly seized on the incident. APGA’s National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Ejimofor Opara, alleged on X (formerly Twitter) that Ukachukwu’s candidacy was a ploy to “use public money to clear his personal debt.”
Ukachukwu’s campaign has dismissed the confrontation as a “staged political drama.” His spokesperson, Dr. Justin Nwankwo, argued that genuine debt recovery would involve legal channels, not public theatrics.
“Any serious creditor knows debt recovery follows contracts, courts, and collateral—not placards and camera crews,” Nwankwo said, branding the confrontation a “choreographed act” by APGA loyalists.
Adding a dramatic twist, the Sustenance of Faith in Good Governance (SOFIG), an NGO, claimed the Abuja encounter was an assassination attempt. SOFIG’s Director of Strategy and Mobilization, Dr. Janet Maduka, alleged that armed men tried to abduct Ukachukwu.
“This brazen daylight attack is not about debt—it’s about silencing a leading opposition figure,” Maduka said. “Instead of campaigning with achievements, some elements now resort to politics at gunpoint.”
According to SOFIG, over 10 men blocked Ukachukwu’s vehicle, demanding he follow them. When he declined and suggested a formal meeting, they allegedly attempted to force him using firearms before his security team intervened.
The NGO also accused government allies of circulating the video to damage Ukachukwu’s reputation. Campaign spokesperson Nwankwo questioned the absence of any legal documentation or public lawsuit regarding the ₦1 billion claim.
“Where is the evidence? No creditor chases ₦1 billion with placards and cameramen. This is blackmail, not business,” he insisted.
The Anambra State government has not officially responded, while the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies have been urged to investigate. Political analysts warn that the incident reflects rising tensions that could destabilize the already volatile campaign season.
Ukachukwu’s team vowed to stay focused on “real issues” like education, infrastructure, and economic revival, dismissing the video as a “cheap distraction” from what they call APGA’s governance failures.
With just weeks to the election, the Abuja confrontation has become a flashpoint in Anambra politics—one that could influence voter sentiment and test the resilience of Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
