By: Manoah Kikekon
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| Canada and Nigeria Flag |
The Nigerian government has issued a strong warning to Canadian authorities, demanding an immediate retraction of a controversial court verdict that labeled members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as "terrorists."
In a statement released on Friday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nigeria condemned the ruling as "reckless, false, and an unacceptable interference" in its internal affairs.
Spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa stated that the Canadian Federal Court’s decision wrongly implicated prominent Nigerian leaders, including President Bola Tinubu and former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Goodluck Jonathan, and Muhammadu Buhari. The government argued that the ruling unfairly tarnished the reputation of legitimate political parties that have governed Nigeria since its return to democracy in 1999.
"The court’s sweeping accusation against entire political parties instead of targeting individuals is baseless and dangerous," the statement read. "This implies that every APC and PDP member is a potential terrorist, which is completely false and unacceptable."
Nigeria urged Canada to retract the verdict and avoid actions that could be seen as endorsing politically motivated narratives. The government emphasized that diplomatic channels remain open for resolution but insisted that the ruling undermines Nigeria’s democratic institutions and could provoke unnecessary tension.
The controversy stems from a June 2025 Canadian Federal Court decision that upheld an immigration tribunal ruling, declaring the APC and PDP as terrorist organizations. The case involved Douglas Egharevba, a former party member denied asylum over his past affiliations.
Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to the rule of law and called on Canada to engage with Nigerian institutions to correct the error. The statement highlighted that Nigeria’s political parties operate legally under its constitution and play a vital role in sustaining Africa’s largest democracy.