Prominent human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has raised serious concerns following a Canadian court ruling that identified Nigeria’s two major political parties the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as terrorist organisations.
Falana warned that unless the parties take urgent legal action to counter this designation, their members could face international fallout, including visa denials, deportations, and damage to Nigeria’s global image.
In a strongly-worded statement titled “Beyond Judicial Recognition of APC and PDP as Terrorist Societies,” Falana criticized the dismissive responses from both parties and urged a serious reflection on the culture of political violence and impunity that has plagued Nigeria’s democratic process.
He pointed to Nigeria’s own Terrorism (Prevention) Act of 2022, which classifies terrorism as not only violent attacks but also acts that aim to intimidate, coerce, or undermine government institutions. By that definition, Falana argued, repeated acts of electoral violence, thuggery, and vote manipulation could meet the threshold of terrorism.
“The riggers boldly tell opponents to go to court, and judges then validate stolen mandates,” he said, accusing both APC and PDP of systemic abuse of the democratic process.
The warning follows a ruling by Canada’s Federal Court in which Justice Phuong Ngo rejected an asylum claim by Nigerian citizen Douglas Egharevba. In her judgment, the judge concluded that both APC and PDP had been involved in terrorism and the subversion of democracy, citing widespread electoral malpractice and political violence.
While APC dismissed the judgment as “ignorant and racist” and the PDP called it “mischievous,” Falana insisted that these reactions dodge the core issues.
Instead of name-calling, Falana advised the parties to work with international immigration lawyers and challenge the ruling legally — or risk being treated as members of banned terrorist groups abroad.
Falana backed his argument by recalling controversial statements by party leaders, including:
- Former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s “do-or-die” comment during the 2003 elections,
- Former President Muhammadu Buhari’s infamous “dog and baboon” remark, and
- President Bola Tinubu’s 2023 rallying cry: “Fight for power, grab it, snatch it, and run with it.”
He also cited ongoing electoral abuses, including reports of vote buying and ballot snatching in recent by-elections, and the arrest of hundreds of political thugs in Kano.
Falana warned that the Canadian court’s ruling could set a precedent in countries like the UK and US, potentially leading to automatic visa rejections for APC and PDP members.
“If registered abroad, members of both parties risk deportation, visa denials, and international stigma,” he cautioned.
He called on the Nigerian government to immediately initiate a legal appeal to overturn the Canadian decision and restore Nigeria’s credibility.
Finally, Falana stressed that the burden now lies on Nigeria’s judiciary and law enforcement to prosecute political violence, regardless of the offender’s rank or political affiliation.
“The collateral damage of this judgment will not just affect APC and PDP members. It also taints ordinary Nigerians, as the world now perceives our country as being run by two terrorist organisations,” he concluded.
