The Federal Government of Nigeria has strongly condemned a ruling by a Canadian Federal Court that labelled the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) as terrorist organisations, calling it “reckless, baseless, and an unacceptable interference” in the country’s internal affairs.
The controversial ruling, delivered on June 17, 2025, came during an immigration case involving Douglas Egharevba, a Nigerian national and former member of both the PDP and APC.
Egharevba, who sought asylum in Canada in 2017, had challenged a previous decision denying him refugee status.
However, Justice Phuong Ngo of the Canadian Federal Court upheld the Immigration Appeal Division’s earlier judgment, which found Egharevba inadmissible under Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
The court cited his decade-long affiliation with the two major Nigerian parties, which were classified as terrorist groups in the ruling.
Justice Ngo argued that violent actions and political intimidation by party members, including high-ranking officials, were “too widespread and persistent” to separate the parties’ leadership from the acts committed.
In response, the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a sharply worded statement rejecting the ruling.
“This judgment is not only baseless and reckless, but it constitutes an unacceptable interference in Nigeria’s democratic processes,” said Kimiebi Ebienfa, the Ministry’s spokesperson.
The statement criticized the court for making “sweeping generalizations” about two major political parties that have produced democratically elected presidents, rather than focusing on individuals accused of wrongdoing.
“It suggests that every member of these parties is a potential terrorist. That is not only false but also damaging,” the Ministry noted.
The Federal Government called on Canadian authorities to reverse the ruling immediately, warning that such actions could legitimize politically motivated narratives and misrepresent Nigeria’s political environment.
“Nigeria is a sovereign nation with a robust legal and constitutional framework. Our political parties function lawfully and play a vital role in sustaining our democracy,” the statement added.
The government emphasized that associating lawful political entities with terrorism without credible evidence undermines democratic institutions and could trigger unnecessary tension.
“Diplomatic channels remain open. We urge the Canadian government to engage with Nigerian institutions to correct this grave error,” said Ebienfa.
Reiterating its opposition to terrorism in all forms, the Federal Government highlighted ongoing efforts to combat extremism and reaffirmed its commitment to international security cooperation.
It also called on the global community to disregard the Canadian court’s designation, warning against accepting narratives that distort Nigeria’s political realities.
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