The Federal Government has strongly criticised a recent ruling by a Canadian Federal Court that linked Nigeria’s two major political parties, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), to terrorism.

In a statement issued on Friday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the judgment as reckless, baseless, and an unacceptable intrusion into Nigeria’s internal political affairs. The ministry stressed that equating legitimate political organisations with terrorism was a dangerous misrepresentation that could damage Nigeria’s democratic image.

The ruling, delivered on June 17, 2025, came during the case of Douglas Egharevba, a Nigerian who sought asylum in Canada. The court upheld an earlier immigration tribunal’s position that his decade-long membership of both PDP and APC made him inadmissible, citing widespread political violence allegedly linked to the parties.

Justice Phuong Ngo, who presided over the case, argued that the persistent acts of intimidation and violence by members and officials of the PDP were too systemic to separate from the party’s leadership.

Nigeria’s government, however, rejected the basis of the ruling, insisting that criminal actions by individuals should not be used to tarnish entire political parties that have produced elected presidents and contributed to the nation’s democratic development. The Foreign Ministry called on Canada to immediately reverse the decision and avoid lending legitimacy to politically motivated claims.

Meanwhile, the APC dismissed reports that the Canadian court had formally branded it a terrorist organisation, describing such claims as “false and misleading.” The party’s spokesman, Felix Morka, clarified that APC was only mentioned in passing within the court documents, and no declaration of terrorism was made.

On the other hand, opposition groups such as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) suggested that the ruling was influenced by Nigeria’s long history of electoral malpractice and violence. According to them, the judgment highlights how seriously other nations view the use of thuggery, intimidation, and vote-rigging in elections.

The ADC’s Bolaji Abdullahi noted that while the context of the case may not be fully understood, the decision underlines the importance of accountability in Nigeria’s political system. CUPP’s National Secretary, Peter Ameh, went further, saying that election-related violence in 2023 and previous years amounted to “acts of terror,” making the Canadian court’s conclusion unsurprising.

Despite the controversy, the Federal Government reiterated its commitment to fighting terrorism and urged Nigerians abroad not to misrepresent the country in pursuit of asylum claims.