Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has warned that members of Nigeria’s two dominant political parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), may face visa revocation and deportation in several Western countries.
Falana issued the warning on Monday, August 18, following a Canadian court’s verdict that labelled the APC and PDP as terrorist organisations.
He said the ruling could be registered in the United States, United Kingdom, France, and other countries, leading to severe consequences for members of the parties.
According to Falana, the parties cannot dismiss the ruling with insults or denial.
Instead, they must act quickly and legally to prove that they are not terrorist groups.
“Instead of abusing the Canadian judge, the APC and PDP should urgently adopt legal measures to prove that they are not terrorist organisations,” he said.
Falana explained that the ruling, if enforced outside Canada, could strip many Nigerians of their visas and residency rights abroad.
“If the ruling is registered in the United States, United Kingdom, France, and elsewhere, members of the APC and PDP may have their visas revoked and may be deported,” he cautioned.
The lawyer criticized both parties for their long history of electoral malpractice, violence, and the use of state institutions to manipulate results.
“It is common knowledge that APC and PDP rig elections and announce fake results with the assistance of armed thugs, police, and military personnel,” he added.
Falana also urged the Nigerian federal government to step in immediately.
He advised that immigration lawyers should be hired to challenge the verdict and protect Nigerians from being branded as citizens of terrorist-backed governments.
“The federal government should hire immigration lawyers to take urgent action to remove the stigma of infamy contained in the judgment,” he said.
He further warned that the damage of the ruling extends beyond party loyalists.
Ordinary Nigerians could face reputational harm if their country is tied to terrorist organisations.
“The collateral damage will certainly affect other citizens since the government of their homeland has been sponsored by two terrorist political parties,” Falana stressed.
Diaspora Digital Media gathered that the controversy began when a Canadian Federal Court upheld a landmark immigration tribunal decision.
The tribunal had declared the APC and PDP terrorist organisations while rejecting the asylum claim of Douglas Egharevba, a former member with a decade-long affiliation with both parties.
Following the ruling, the Nigerian government strongly rejected the classification and called on Canadian authorities to withdraw the judgment. Officials described the verdict as unfair and damaging to Nigeria’s international image.
Despite the federal government’s rejection, Falana insisted that words alone were not enough.
He argued that only a serious legal challenge could overturn the stigma and protect Nigerians abroad.
The development has sparked intense debate within political and diplomatic circles.
Many fear that Nigerians linked to the APC and PDP could be flagged during immigration checks in countries that recognize Canada’s ruling.
For party members living overseas, the risks include deportation, canceled visas, and denied residency renewals.
Falana’s warning now places both ruling and opposition parties under pressure to act fast.
Analysts say failure to challenge the ruling could expose countless Nigerians to harsh immigration consequences, particularly in countries with strict anti-terror laws.
With the issue now global, the spotlight is back on Nigeria’s troubled electoral system, where violence, rigging, and manipulation have often undermined democracy.