The Federal Government of Nigeria has strongly condemned a recent ruling by a Canadian Federal Court which allegedly classified certain Nigerian political parties as “terrorist organizations.”
The controversial designation stemmed from the asylum case of a Nigerian, Mr. Douglas Egharevba, who arrived in Canada in 2017 and sought refugee status under the country’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. Nigerian authorities described the ruling as reckless, baseless, and a violation of the country’s sovereignty.
Officials argued that the judgment unfairly casts a blanket accusation on entire political parties—one of which has produced three democratically elected presidents—rather than focusing on individuals implicated in wrongdoing. The implication, according to Nigeria, is that millions of law-abiding citizens could be branded as terrorists, an outcome the government says is false and unacceptable.
Nigeria stressed that its political system is governed by a robust legal and constitutional framework. Political parties, the government noted, operate within democratic principles, and linking them to terrorism without credible evidence is a dangerous misrepresentation that risks undermining democratic institutions and fueling unnecessary tensions.
The Nigerian government has called on Canadian authorities to immediately withdraw the ruling and avoid actions that could be interpreted as endorsing politically motivated narratives. It assured that diplomatic channels remain open for constructive dialogue to resolve the matter.
Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to the global fight against terrorism, highlighting its ongoing efforts in combating extremist groups within its borders. It urged the international community to disregard the Canadian court’s ruling and maintain confidence in Nigeria’s democratic governance and rule of law.
Additionally, the government cautioned Nigerian nationals abroad against making unfounded allegations about the country in pursuit of asylum or personal gains, stressing that such actions tarnish Nigeria’s global image.
