Nigeria has strongly rejected a Canadian federal court ruling that labelled two of its major political parties as “terrorist organizations,” calling the decision “unacceptable interference” and a “serious distortion” of facts.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Nigerian government said the ruling, linked to the asylum case of Nigerian national Douglas Egharevba, was “baseless” and undermined the country’s democratic processes.
Egharevba, who arrived in Canada in September 2017, had sought asylum, claiming that membership in Nigeria’s political parties put him at risk.
“The blanket accusation targeting all members of the parties in question—one of which has produced three democratically elected presidents—instead of individuals is misleading, damaging, and contrary to the facts,” the Foreign Ministry said.
The government warned that such classifications risked exposing party activists to unwarranted association with terrorism.
Abuja reaffirmed that Nigeria is a sovereign state with a robust legal and constitutional framework regulating political activity. “All registered parties operate within the law, and there is no credible evidence linking them to terrorism,” the statement read.
Nigerian authorities urged Ottawa to withdraw the designation, calling it “erroneous” and cautioning against any actions that could give credence to politically motivated narratives.
The government emphasised its commitment to combating terrorism, citing progress against extremist groups within its borders, and appealed to citizens to avoid making unverified allegations that could tarnish Nigeria’s international reputation.
The Canadian Federal Court, presided over by Justice Phuong TV Ngo, upheld the denial of Egharevba’s asylum application.
The ruling endorsed the Immigration Appeal Division’s findings that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), the party of Nigeria’s current president, had engaged in political violence, intimidation, electoral fraud, and assassinations over several decades.
Under Canadian law, these practices were classified as “terrorism” and “subversion of democratic institutions,” with membership in the implicated parties deemed sufficient to render an individual inadmissible, regardless of personal involvement.
Nigeria’s government has called for diplomatic dialogue to address what it considers a misrepresentation of its political landscape and reiterated its dedication to upholding democratic principles.
About The Author
