(DDM) – The Federal Government of Nigeria has strongly condemned a Canadian Federal Court ruling that designated the country’s two major political parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as terrorist organizations.
The reaction came in a statement on Friday by Kimiebi Ebienfa, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, condemning the ruling as “reckless, baseless, and an unacceptable interference in Nigeria’s internal affairs.”
This ruling arose from an immigration case involving Nigerian national Douglas Egharevba, who sought refugee status in Canada after arriving in 2017.
The court’s judgment extended terrorism allegations to both the APC and PDP.
The Nigerian government criticized the court for making sweeping accusations against entire political parties that have produced democratically elected presidents, arguing the ruling unjustly labels all members as terrorists rather than focusing on individuals proven guilty of specific offenses.
The statement emphasized that Nigeria’s political parties operate within a robust constitutional and legal framework, warning that the ruling could spread misinformation and inflame political tensions.
Nigeria has called on Canadian authorities to retract the designation and urged that politically motivated narratives that misrepresent Nigeria’s democracy be avoided.
The government reiterated Nigeria’s strong commitment to fighting terrorism and cooperating on global security, cautioning Nigerians against misusing asylum claims to malign the country.
“Nigeria remains committed to the global fight against terrorism and has made significant strides in countering extremism,” the statement affirmed. “The international community should disregard this misguided ruling.”
The Canadian court ruling has generated deep concern in Nigeria, with both the APC and PDP describing it as misguided and damaging.
The case and ruling spotlight ongoing challenges in Nigeria’s political landscape, where accusations of electoral violence and political intimidation have long been contentious issues.
The Nigerian government reaffirmed its dedication to upholding democratic governance and requested diplomatic engagement with Canadian authorities to resolve the issue constructively.