Nigerian Political Parties Challenged to Prove They Are Not Terrorist Organizations

Following a landmark ruling by a Canadian court that labeled Nigeria's two major political parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as terrorist organizations, human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has challenged them to legally defend themselves instead of resorting to verbal attacks.

The ruling, which has been strongly condemned by the Nigerian government as "baseless" and "unacceptable interference," stemmed from an asylum case involving a PDP member. Falana argues that the parties must take urgent legal action to clear their names, warning that the court's decision could have severe consequences for Nigerian citizens abroad.

The controversy began with a judgment delivered by Justice Phuong T.V. Ngo of the Federal Court of Canada on June 17, 2025. The court dismissed the asylum application of Douglas Egharevba, a Nigerian national and PDP member, based on his affiliation with a party the court found to be engaged in political violence and subversion of democratic institutions.

According to a court document obtained by Peoples Gazette, the ruling endorsed previous findings that both the PDP and APC have participated in violence, voter intimidation, ballot stuffing, and murder to gain and hold power.

The Nigerian government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has vehemently rejected the ruling, describing it as a "sweeping accusation" against parties that have produced democratically elected presidents. The government has called for an immediate withdrawal of the judgment and urged Canada to engage with Nigerian authorities through diplomatic channels.

Falana's Stinging Critique

Falana, however, connects the Canadian court's decision to Nigeria's history of electoral malpractice and political violence, arguing that both the APC and PDP have perpetuated a culture of impunity.

"It is common knowledge that both APC and PDP rig elections and announce fake results with the assistance of armed police personnel and soldiers," Falana stated, adding that citizens who protest are often attacked or killed without justice.

The human rights lawyer referenced past comments by Nigerian leaders to support his claims. He cited former President Olusegun Obasanjo's infamous "do-or-die" remark about the 2003 election and President Bola Tinubu's 2023 directive to "fight for power, grab it, snatch it, and run with it." According to Falana, such rhetoric, combined with widespread electoral violence, validates the Canadian court's assessment.

He also criticized what he called the selective application of Nigeria's Terrorism (Prevention) Act, noting that unarmed protesters are prosecuted while politicians who allegedly embezzle public funds are not.

Potential Consequences and Call to Action

Falana warned that if the ruling is not overturned, it could have far-reaching effects, potentially leading to the deportation or visa revocation of APC and PDP members in countries like the United States, the UK, and France. He urged the Nigerian government to swiftly hire legal experts to challenge the judgment.

"The collateral damage of the judgment will certainly affect other citizens since the Government of their homeland has been sponsored by two terrorist political parties," he concluded, emphasizing the urgent need for a legal response to remove the "stigma of infamy."