FG SLAMS CANADIAN COURT FOR TAGGING NIGERIAN POLITICAL PARTIES ‘TERRORIST ORGANISATIONS’
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By: Sefiu Ajape
The Federal Government has strongly criticised a recent ruling by a Canadian Federal Court that classified certain Nigerian political parties as “terrorist organisations,” describing the decision as reckless, baseless, and an unacceptable interference in Nigeria’s internal affairs.
This was contained in a Friday statement signed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa.
The ruling was issued in connection with an immigration case involving Nigerian national Douglas Egharevba, who arrived in Canada in 2017 seeking refugee status. The judgment alleged that some Nigerian political organisations had links to terrorism.
FG maintained that the “baseless classification is not only reckless but also constitutes an unacceptable interference in Nigeria’s internal affairs and democratic processes.”
It stressed that the court failed to differentiate between individuals accused of wrongdoing and the legitimate membership of political parties.
“The Court made a sweeping accusation against the entire membership of a political party that has produced three democratically elected presidents, instead of focusing on individuals found wanting. The larger ramification of the decision is that every member of the mentioned political parties is a potential terrorist, and that is completely false and unacceptable,” the statement read.
The government reiterated that Nigeria’s political system operates under a robust legal and constitutional framework, and all recognised political parties function within the law. It warned that the ruling could fuel misinformation and incite unnecessary tensions.
Calling for an immediate reversal, the ministry urged Canadian authorities to “refrain from actions that could be misconstrued as endorsing politically motivated narratives against Nigeria” and to engage Nigerian institutions through diplomatic channels to address the matter.
“Nigeria is a sovereign nation with a robust legal and constitutional framework governing political activities. Our political parties operate within the ambit of the law and are integral to the country’s vibrant democracy. To associate legitimate political entities with terrorism without credible evidence is a grave misrepresentation that undermines Nigeria’s democratic institutions and could incite unnecessary tension,” it said.
Reaffirming its commitment to the global fight against terrorism, FG highlighted its ongoing counter-extremism efforts and urged the international community to disregard the “misguided ruling.”
It also cautioned Nigerians against making unfounded claims to foreign governments to secure asylum or immigration advantages.
“The government further urges Nigerian nationals to refrain from making unfounded allegations against Nigeria under the pretext of seeking asylum or favours from foreign entities,” the statement concluded.
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