FG rejects Canadian Court’s labeling of Nigerian political parties as terrorist groups

The Federal Government has criticised a recent decision by a Canadian Federal Court, calling it a reckless and unfounded classification of certain Nigerian political parties as “terrorist organizations.”

The ruling relates to a case involving a Nigerian national, Mr. Douglas Egharevba, who arrived in Canada in September 2017 and applied for refugee status under the country’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

The government said the court’s decision unfairly targets entire political parties, including one that has produced three democratically elected presidents, instead of focusing on individuals accused of wrongdoing.

Officials warned that the ruling falsely portrays all members of the affected parties as potential terrorists, describing the claim as “unacceptable.”

In a statement, the Federal Government reaffirmed that Nigeria is a sovereign nation with a strong democratic system and legal framework guiding political activity. It called the ruling a misrepresentation that could undermine democratic institutions and fuel political tensions.

Nigeria is urging Canadian authorities to immediately withdraw the designation and engage with relevant Nigerian institutions through diplomatic channels to resolve the matter.

The government also highlighted Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to combat terrorism and progress in tackling extremist groups, while calling on the international community to disregard the Canadian court’s ruling. Citizens were advised against making baseless claims about Nigeria abroad for personal interests.