Nigeria rejects Canadian court’s terrorism label on political parties
The Federal Government has condemned a ruling by a Canadian federal court that designated certain Nigerian political parties as “terrorist organisations.”
In a statement on Friday, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa said the decision arose from a case involving a Nigerian, Mr. Douglas Egharevba, who arrived in Canada in 2017 and applied for refugee status under the country’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
The ministry described the classification as reckless and an unacceptable interference in Nigeria’s internal affairs and democratic processes. It faulted the court for making sweeping accusations against the entire membership of a party that has produced three democratically elected presidents, instead of focusing on individuals implicated in wrongdoing.
“The implication of this decision is that every member of the affected political parties is viewed as a potential terrorist, which is completely false and unacceptable,” the statement read.
It stressed that Nigeria has a robust legal and constitutional framework for political activities and that its political parties operate within the law as part of a vibrant democracy. Linking legitimate political entities to terrorism without credible evidence, it warned, was a grave misrepresentation capable of inciting tension.
The government urged Canada to retract the designation and engage with relevant Nigerian institutions to correct the error, adding that diplomatic channels remain open for constructive dialogue.
Reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to the global fight against terrorism, the ministry said the country had made significant progress in countering extremist groups. It called on the international community to disregard the ruling and maintain confidence in Nigeria’s democratic governance.
The statement also urged Nigerians to desist from making unfounded allegations against the country in pursuit of asylum or favours from foreign entities.
