The Nigerian government led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has faulted a ruling by a Canadian Federal Court that classified two major Nigerian political parties as “terrorist organisations,” describing the judgment as unfounded and an affront to the country’s sovereignty.
In a statement issued on Friday, August 15, 2025, by Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa, Nigerian government warned that the decision was “baseless, reckless, and an unacceptable interference in Nigeria’s internal affairs.”
“The Federal Government of Nigeria express deep concerns over the recent ruling by a Canadian Federal court that erroneously designates certain political parties in Nigeria as ‘terrorist organisations,’” the statement said.
The court ruling stemmed from a case involving Douglas Egharevba, a Nigerian who entered Canada in 2017 and sought refugee protection. Abuja argued the court went far beyond the individual matter by making sweeping allegations against an entire political party that has produced three democratically elected presidents.
“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 of the decision is that every member of the mentioned political parties is a potential terrorist, and that is completely false and unacceptable.”
The government stressed that Nigeria’s political institutions are grounded in law and function within a vibrant democracy.
“Nigeria is a sovereign nation with a robust legal and constitutional framework governing political activities. Our political parties operate within the ambit of the law and are integral to the country’s vibrant democracy. To associate legitimate political entities with terrorism without credible evidence is a grave misrepresentation that undermines Nigeria’s democratic institutions and could incite unnecessary tension.”
Calling on Ottawa to retract the judgment, Abuja urged Canada to resolve the matter diplomatically.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria, therefore, calls on the Canadian authorities to immediately retract this erroneous designation and refrain from actions that could be misconstrued as endorsing politically motivated narratives against Nigeria. Diplomatic channels remain open for constructive dialogue, and we urge the Government of Canada to engage with the relevant Nigerian institutions to rectify this error.”
Reaffirming Nigeria’s efforts against terrorism, the government warned against using asylum claims to tarnish the country’s image.
“Nigeria remains committed to the global fight against terrorism and has made significant strides in countering extremist groups within its borders; therefore, called on the international community to disregard this misguided ruling and reaffirm its confidence in Nigeria’s democratic governance and rule of law.”
“The government further urges Nigerian nationals to refrain from making unfounded allegations against Nigeria under the pretext of seeking asylum or favours from foreign entities.”
The Canadian court decision, delivered on June 17, 2025, by Justice Phuong T.V. Ngo, rejected Egharevba’s asylum application on the grounds that membership in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) made him inadmissible to Canada under paragraph 34(1)(f) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA).
Court documents cited by Peoples Gazette reported that both the PDP and the All Progressives Congress (APC) were accused of political violence, voter intimidation, ballot fraud, and even murder to secure power. The PDP and APC remain Nigeria’s two dominant political parties.
