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Nigeria, APC React as Canadian Court ‘Terrorist Tag’ Report Sparks Controversy
Earlier today, social media and several online platforms reported that a Canadian Federal Court had designated Nigeria’s two major political parties; the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) s terrorist organisations.
In reaction, the Federal Government dismissed the alleged designation as “reckless” and an “unacceptable interference” in Nigeria’s democratic process.
In a statement signed by Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, the government urged Canadian authorities to withdraw any such claims, warning that the implication could unfairly brand millions of Nigerians as potential terrorists.
“This baseless classification is not only reckless but also constitutes an unacceptable interference in Nigeria’s internal affairs and democratic processes,” Ebienfa said.
“The Court made a sweeping accusation against the entire membership of a political party that has produced three democratically elected presidents, instead of focusing on individuals found wanting.
The larger ramification is that every member of the mentioned political parties is a potential terrorist and that is completely false and unacceptable.”
However, In another statement, APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka clarified that the Canadian court never declared the APC a terrorist organisation. According to Morka, the only reference to the APC in the ruling came from a background note quoting the applicant’s claim of party membership a claim that was factually inaccurate since the APC did not exist at the time he claimed to have joined.
Morka explained that the June 17, 2025 ruling involved Nigerian national Douglas Egharevba and Canadian immigration authorities, relating to his inadmissibility to Canada under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. The court upheld the immigration decision based on Egharevba’s past membership in the PDP, which the ruling described as engaged in “acts of subversion” in certain elections but made no such finding about the APC.
Both the Federal Government and the APC have urged Nigerians to disregard the earlier viral reports and avoid spreading misinformation. The government reaffirmed its commitment to the fight against terrorism, while the APC stressed that any claim of a “terrorist designation” was “blatantly false and mischievous.”
Editor’s Note: This report updates an earlier article to reflect official clarifications from the Nigerian government and the APC.
