PDP Slams Canadian Court For Labeling Nigeria’s Major Parties As Terrorist Organizations

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has strongly criticized a Canadian court ruling that classified Nigeria’s two major political parties—the PDP and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)—as terrorist organizations.

Describing the decision as “misinformed, biased, and lacking evidence,” the PDP urged that the judgment be dismissed outright.

The controversy stems from a Federal Court of Canada judgment delivered on June 17, 2025, which upheld an earlier ruling by the Immigration Appeal Division (IAD) labeling the APC and PDP as terrorist groups. The court denied asylum to Douglas Egharevba, a former member of both parties, citing his decade-long affiliation with them.

According to court records, Egharevba was a PDP member from 1999 to 2007 before joining the APC until 2017, when he relocated to Canada. The IAD based its findings largely on allegations of ballot stuffing, voter intimidation, and killings during the PDP-led 2003 state elections and 2004 local government polls. Canada’s Minister of Public Safety had argued that both parties were linked to political violence and the subversion of democracy in Nigeria.

Reacting to the ruling, PDP Deputy National Youth Leader Timothy Osadolor told Vanguard:
“Nigeria and Canada are both democracies. When exercising freedom of speech, one must be circumspect about unguarded statements. There’s nothing to show that even the malfunctioning APC is a terrorist organisation, much less the PDP, which is a credible institution. If they wanted to allege that some individuals in government have links to terrorism, there may be a case. But to label entire political parties as terrorist organisations is wrong.”

Former NNPC Ltd spokesman Olufemi Soneye also condemned the judgment, describing it as a dangerous precedent.
He said:
“For Nigerians abroad, especially those who have ever held a party membership card, it signals heightened scrutiny, denied visas, and rejected asylum claims, not only in Canada but potentially in other Western democracies. Even more alarming is what this means for democracy. Labeling established political parties as terrorist organisations undermines their legitimacy at home and abroad. It blurs the line between dissent and danger, between governance and extremism, and could be used as a tool to silence opposition and erode civil liberties.”

The PDP has called on Canadian authorities to focus on specific allegations against individuals rather than making sweeping accusations against entire political institutions.