Canadian Court Ruling Declaring PDP and APC as Terrorist Organisations Leaves an Indelible Scar on Nigerians

 Canadian Court Ruling Declaring PDP and APC as Terrorist Organisations Leaves an Indelible Scar on Nigerians

Canadian Court Ruling Declaring PDP and APC as Terrorist Organisations Leaves an Indelible Scar on Nigerians

 

For Nigerians abroad, especially those with any history of party membership, the decision signals a new era of heightened scrutiny. The “indelible scar” left by the actions of a few may continue to affect millions, shaping how the world perceives Nigeria for years to come.

When these politicians and corrupt leaders are finally held accountable, both at home and abroad, it will send a powerful message that there is no hiding place for the wicked. As some of their friends and family continue to flaunt and celebrate their ill-gotten wealth, may they too face the same fate. For far too long, these politicians have siphoned public funds to invest abroad, sent their children to foreign schools, sought medical treatment overseas, enjoyed luxury vacations in other countries, and now seek asylum there. I urge journalists and human rights activists to file petitions against these individuals so that foreign governments can identify them and extend such scrutiny to their family members as well.

The Igbo proverb: Ofu aka luta mmanu, ozue aka n’ile onu — “When one finger touches oil, it spreads to all the fingers.” In this case, the misconduct of some political party members has created lasting consequences for all Nigerians, regardless of individual innocence.

A high-ranking PDP member seeking asylum paints a negative narrative internationally, suggesting political instability, human rights abuses, and economic hardship at home. This not only damages Nigeria’s reputation but also undermines confidence in its governance, potentially deterring foreign investment and straining diplomatic relations.

A recent ruling by a Canadian court has sent shockwaves through Nigeria’s political and diplomatic circles, declaring the country’s two dominant political parties, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), as organisations implicated in acts tantamount to terrorism and democratic subversion. The judgment, delivered on June 17, 2025, by Justice Phuong Ngo, dismissed the application for judicial review filed by Mr. Egharevba, a former member of both parties, after Canada’s Immigration Appeal Division (IAD) found him inadmissible under the security provisions of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA).

Court records reveal that Mr. Egharevba was a PDP member from 1999 until 2007 before joining the APC, where he remained until 2017. He relocated to Canada in September 2017, openly disclosing his political affiliations in a Background Declaration Form. During a 2018 interrogation by the Canada Border Services Agency, he confirmed his eight-year membership in the PDP before defecting to the APC.

Canadian immigration authorities flagged his affiliations, relying on intelligence reports linking both parties to electoral violence, voter intimidation, ballot stuffing, politically motivated killings, and suppression of opposition voices. These reports drew particular attention to the PDP’s conduct during the 2003 state elections and the 2004 local government polls, in which party operatives allegedly engaged in widespread violence and electoral fraud, benefiting the leadership who took no steps to prevent such acts.

Justice Ngo noted that under paragraph 34(1)(f) of the IRPA, mere membership in an organisation connected to terrorism or the subversion of democracy is sufficient to trigger inadmissibility regardless of whether the individual personally participated in such acts.

The Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness argued that both the PDP and APC have been deeply implicated in political violence, democratic subversion, and electoral bloodshed, all of which inflicted harm and terror on Nigerian citizens. This, according to Canadian legal interpretation, meets the threshold for inadmissibility under paragraph 34(1)(b.1) of the IRPA.

The ruling cited evidence of ballot stuffing, voter intimidation, and killings of opposition supporters, concluding that such conduct was too widespread and persistent to be separated from the leadership of the parties involved.

This judgment has broader consequences beyond Mr. Egharevba’s asylum bid. It sets a precedent for increased scrutiny on Nigerians with any past political affiliations, potentially leading to visa denials, rejected asylum claims, and reputational damage in Western democracies.

Asylum-seeking is often viewed as a signal of persecution, lack of basic freedoms, or a government’s inability to protect its citizens. The increasing association of Nigeria’s major political parties with violence and subversion could lead to intensified monitoring by other nations, restrictions on travel, and diminished international trust.

In reaction, PDP Deputy National Youth Leader Timothy Osadolor dismissed the court’s findings as “misinformed, biased, and lacking evidence.” Speaking to Vanguard in Abuja, Osadolor emphasised that Nigeria and Canada are both democracies and warned that such allegations should be handled with precision and fairness.

While acknowledging that individuals in the APC-led government have faced accusations of ties to terrorism — citing a controversial incident involving a prominent government member’s property and a Boko Haram leader — Osadolor argued it was wrong to brand entire political parties as terrorist organisations.

The ruling coincides with the United States Treasury Department imposing sanctions on individuals connected with Boko Haram, a move likely to intensify Nigeria’s global image crisis. International organisations and human rights groups may now view Nigeria’s political and security environment with increased skepticism, potentially complicating diplomatic engagements.

Daniel Okonkwo is a seasoned writer, human rights advocate, and public affairs analyst, renowned for his thought-provoking articles on governance, justice, and social equity. Through his platform, Profile International Human Rights Advocate, he consistently highlights pressing issues affecting Nigeria and beyond, amplifying voices that demand accountability and reform. He is also a professional transcriptionist and a seasoned petitionist, with over 1,000 published articles credited to his name on Google. Many of his works have been featured in Sahara Reporters and other major news outlets, and he is also a ghostwriter and a Freelancer.