Canada Labels APC, PDP as Terrorist Groups — PDP, Soneye Condemn ‘Dangerous Precedent’

A Federal Court in Canada has upheld a controversial ruling classifying Nigeria’s two major political parties — the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) — as terrorist organisations under Canadian law. The decision, delivered on June 17, 2025, by Justice Phuong Ngo, also denied asylum to Nigerian national Douglas Egharevba over his decade-long affiliation with both parties.

According to court records, Egharevba, a PDP member from 1999 to 2007 and later an APC member until 2017, disclosed his political history after moving to Canada in September 2017. Canadian immigration authorities flagged his membership, citing intelligence reports linking the two parties to electoral violence, voter intimidation, and politically motivated killings.

The Immigration Appeal Division (IAD) relied heavily on alleged incidents during Nigeria’s 2003 state elections and 2004 local government polls, claiming PDP leaders benefited from acts of violence without taking steps to stop them. Justice Ngo ruled that, under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), mere membership in an organisation associated with terrorism or democratic subversion is enough to render an individual inadmissible — even without evidence of personal involvement in violent acts.

PDP: Verdict Baseless, Unjustified

The Peoples Democratic Party has strongly condemned the ruling, describing it as “misinformed, biased, and lacking in evidence.” Speaking to Vanguard in Abuja, PDP Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, argued that Nigeria and Canada share democratic values, and such an accusation should be handled with caution.

“Nigeria and Canada are both democracies. Freedom of speech is a right, but it must be exercised responsibly. There’s nothing to suggest that even the malfunctioning APC, let alone the PDP, is a terrorist organisation,” Osadolor stated. He argued that while individuals within the political system might have questionable ties, it is unjust to brand entire parties with a terrorism label.

Osadolor pointed to previous allegations against certain APC government figures, referencing claims that a Boko Haram leader was once found in a property linked to a prominent political figure. “If Canada wanted to accuse specific individuals of terrorist links, that could be investigated. But to generalise and call a whole political party a terrorist group is wrong and dangerous,” he added.

Soneye: Canada Is Dangerously Redefining Nigeria’s Democracy

Former Chief Corporate Communications Officer of the NNPC Ltd, Olufemi Soneye, also criticised the ruling, warning that it sets “a deeply troubling precedent.” In a strongly worded statement, he said the decision equates mainstream political participation with terrorism, undermining democracy itself.

Soneye stressed that the judgment could damage Canada–Nigeria diplomatic relations by painting the country’s primary democratic institutions with the same brush as extremist groups. He warned of the potential ripple effect, where other Western democracies could adopt similar positions, leading to increased visa denials and asylum rejections for Nigerians with past or present APC or PDP affiliations.

“Labeling established political parties as terrorist organisations blurs the line between dissent and danger, between governance and extremism,” Soneye said. “Such a precedent can be weaponised to silence opposition and suppress legitimate political activity anywhere in the world.”

Broader Diplomatic and Legal Implications

The ruling has sparked fears among Nigerian youths in the diaspora who have ever been politically active. Soneye noted that under North American immigration laws, membership in a group designated as terrorist is grounds for inadmissibility — meaning even those who joined a party for purely civic reasons could face serious travel and residency consequences.

Critics argue that the decision dilutes the term “terrorism,” making it easier for powerful interests to target political opponents under the guise of national security. “If this definition stands, no political party in any country is safe from being redefined into illegitimacy by a foreign court,” Soneye cautioned.

Diplomatic analysts warn that the case could be raised at the bilateral level, with Nigeria potentially demanding an official explanation or challenging the judgment through international legal channels.

A Global Warning for Democracy

Both the PDP and Soneye have framed the Canadian court’s decision as more than just a domestic immigration matter. They see it as a global warning — that if mainstream political parties in one of Africa’s largest democracies can be labelled as terrorist organisations, similar actions could be taken elsewhere.

“The erosion of democracy is no longer theoretical; it has begun,” Soneye declared. “Canada has long prided itself as a champion of democratic values abroad. This ruling contradicts that legacy. It must be revisited and corrected, not just for Nigeria’s sake, but for the health of democracy everywhere.”

The PDP, meanwhile, is calling for the ruling to be dismissed outright, arguing that political disagreements and electoral disputes — however contentious — do not meet the legal or moral threshold for terrorism.