Falana Raises Alarm Over Canadian Court’s Terrorist Tag on APC, PDP — Warns of Threat to Nigeria’s Democracy and Global Reputation
Human rights advocate Mr. Femi Falana SAN, has issued a strong warning that the recent judgment of a Canadian Federal Court, which classified Nigeria’s two major political parties;the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as “terrorist organisations”, poses serious threats to the integrity of Nigeria’s democracy and its reputation in the global arena.
Speaking on the theme “Beyond Judicial Recognition of APC and PDP as Terrorist Societies”, Falana cautioned that the ruling must not be waved aside through diplomatic protests or name‑calling. Rather, it should serve as a wake‑up call to confront entrenched patterns of electoral violence and political impunity that have long undermined Nigeria’s political system.
He reminded the audience that Nigeria’s Terrorism (Prevention) Act 2022 contains an expansive definition of terrorism. This definition is not limited to armed violence but also covers acts intended to intimidate the public, coerce government policy, or interfere with critical infrastructure.
Falana noted with concern that, despite provisions in the Act exempting peaceful protests, the Federal Government has continued to prosecute unarmed demonstrators including participants in the #EndHardship protests for offences like terrorism and treason, while political actors whose conduct has resulted in widespread deaths are shielded from justice.
According to Falana, both the APC and PDP have repeatedly manipulated elections with the assistance of armed thugs, as well as elements of the police and military. These actions, often leading to fatalities, go unpunished. Perpetrators operate with impunity, and victims are frequently told to “go to court,” only for the courts to confer legitimacy on tainted mandates.
He cited the case of Douglas Egharevba, a Nigerian asylum seeker whose appeal was dismissed in Canada last week. Justice Phuong Ngo, in delivering judgment, held that the APC and PDP had engaged in conduct amounting to terrorism and the subversion of democratic institutions.
While the APC denounced the judge as “ignoramus” and “racist” and the PDP dismissed the ruling as “mischievous,” Falana asserted that these reactions “merely beg the question” and do not address the substantive issues raised by the ruling.
He urged both parties to adopt legal and evidentiary measures to demonstrate that they are not terrorist organisations, instead of exchanging insults. Falana recalled statements by past and present leaders which appeared to glorify political violence including former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s “do or die affair” comment in 2003, Muhammadu Buhari’s “dog and baboon soaked in blood” warning ahead of 2015, and Bola Tinubu’s 2023 rallying cry to “fight for power, grab it, snatch it, and run with it.”
Citing the violence, killings, vote-buying, and ballot snatching observed in recent by-elections alongside the arrest of nearly 300 armed thugs in Kano State, Falana argued that such actions give credence to the Canadian court’s findings. He warned that unless urgent reforms are implemented, the judgment’s ripple effects could stretch beyond Canada, influencing decisions in jurisdictions such as the US and UK, potentially resulting in visa denials, deportations, and international stigmatisation for party members.
Falana called on the Nigerian government to immediately engage immigration law experts to appeal the ruling and “remove the stigma of infamy.” He further urged the judiciary and security agencies to compel strict adherence to constitutional and electoral provisions, and to hold electoral offenders accountable regardless of status, warning that the collateral damage will tarnish not only the APC and PDP but the Nigerian populace at large.
