By Frank Ulom
ABUJA (CONVERSEER) – The All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed reports that a Canadian court declared the party a terrorist organisation, describing the claim as false, misleading and mischievous.
In a statement issued on Friday, 15th August 2025, by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the ruling party clarified that the alleged declaration did not form part of the judgment delivered by the Federal Court of Canada in a case involving Douglas Egharevba and the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness.
Morka explained that the case centred on Egharevba’s challenge to a decision of the Canadian Immigration Appeal Division (IAD), which ruled that he was inadmissible to Canada under the country’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA).
According to the APC, the presiding judge, Phuong T.V. Ngo, in a decision dated 17th June 2025, upheld the IAD’s finding that Egharevba, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was linked to acts of subversion in Nigeria’s electoral process. The judgment, the party noted, made no declaration about APC.
The party stressed that the only reference to APC in the 16-page ruling appeared in the background section, where Egharevba claimed membership of the PDP between 1999 and 2007 and of the APC from 2007 to 2017. However, APC pointed out that this claim was false since the party did not exist until its official registration in 2013.
Quoting directly from the judgment, the APC highlighted the court’s position: “Having found that the IAD’s analysis on subversion was reasonable, this is sufficient to dismiss the application for review. I will therefore refrain from analysing the IAD’s findings on terrorism.”
The party emphasised that the court did not rule on terrorism and never made any pronouncement linking APC to such activities. It added that any declaration to that effect would have been outside the court’s jurisdiction and irrelevant to the proceedings.
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Calling on its members and the public to disregard the reports, APC said the claim was not only erroneous but also damaging, warning that such misinformation could be politically motivated.
Fact Check: What the Canadian Court Really Said
Claim: A Canadian court declared the All Progressives Congress (APC) a terrorist organisation.
Verdict: ❌ False.
What the Court Actually Ruled:
- The case involved Douglas Egharevba, who challenged a Canadian Immigration Appeal Division (IAD) decision that he was inadmissible to Canada under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA).
- The Federal Court of Canada upheld the IAD’s ruling, finding that Egharevba, as a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was associated with acts of subversion against Nigeria’s democratic process.
- The court made no ruling on terrorism and no declaration against APC.
- The only mention of APC appeared in the applicant’s background information, where he falsely claimed membership from 2007 to 2017. (APC was officially formed in 2013.)
Direct Quote from the Judge:
“Having found that the IAD’s analysis on subversion was reasonable, this is sufficient to dismiss the application for review. I will therefore refrain from analysing the IAD’s findings on terrorism.”
Conclusion:
Reports that APC was declared a terrorist organisation by a Canadian court are misleading and untrue. The judgment focused solely on the PDP and issues of electoral subversion.
