The Federal Government of Nigeria has strongly rejected a ruling by a Canadian Federal Court that designated some Nigerian political parties as “terrorist organizations,” describing the move as reckless, baseless, and an unacceptable interference in the country’s democratic processes.
In a statement released on Friday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), Nigeria expressed “deep concerns” over the court’s decision, which arose from the asylum application of a Nigerian national, Mr. Douglas Egharevba, who arrived in Canada in September 2017 and sought refugee status under Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
The court, according to the statement, made a sweeping declaration that implicated entire political parties—one of which has produced three democratically elected presidents—rather than addressing alleged wrongdoing by specific individuals.
“The larger ramification of this decision is that every member of the mentioned political parties is deemed a potential terrorist. That is completely false and unacceptable,” the MFA stressed.
Nigeria reaffirmed its status as a sovereign nation with strong legal and constitutional frameworks governing political activities. The government insisted that all registered political parties operate lawfully and remain central to the country’s vibrant democracy.
The Ministry warned that branding legitimate political entities as terrorist organizations without credible evidence amounts to a grave misrepresentation, capable of undermining Nigeria’s institutions and creating unnecessary tension.
Calling on Ottawa to “immediately retract this erroneous designation,” Nigeria urged the Canadian government to engage with relevant Nigerian authorities through diplomatic channels to correct the situation.
While reiterating its commitment to the global fight against terrorism, the Federal Government emphasized that Nigeria has made significant progress in countering extremist groups within its borders and called on the international community to disregard the Canadian ruling.
The MFA also cautioned Nigerians abroad against making unfounded allegations against their homeland in pursuit of asylum or personal gains.
The statement, signed by Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, concluded with a firm call for respect for Nigeria’s sovereignty and democratic institutions.
