The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the forthcoming November election in Anambra State, Senator Nicholas Ukachukwu, has been thrust into controversy after a dramatic incident at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, where he was reportedly held hostage over an alleged $1.2 million debt.

According to hotel insiders, the confrontation unfolded late Sunday when a creditor accosted Ukachukwu within the premises, demanding immediate settlement of a long-standing financial dispute. Tensions escalated until security operatives intervened, restricting the senator’s movement as negotiations began.

The episode has since reverberated across Anambra’s political landscape, with opposition figures seizing on the development to question Ukachukwu’s suitability for office. “What message does this send to voters if a governorship aspirant is being hounded over unsettled debts?” one Awka resident asked, warning that the scandal could further undermine APC’s already fragile credibility in the state.

As of Monday morning, Ukachukwu had yet to issue a public statement on the matter, while the APC leadership in Abuja has remained tight-lipped. With less than two months to the election, the controversy injects fresh uncertainty into a campaign already dogged by internal rifts and doubts over the party’s electoral prospects.