Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has issued a bold challenge to Nigeria's ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to legally prove that they are not terrorist organisations. This follows a controversial decision by a Canadian Federal Court which described both parties as having engaged in conduct amounting to terrorism under Canadian law.
The ruling was made by Justice Phuong Ngo while dismissing the asylum appeal of Nigerian Douglas Egharevba. The judge labeled the APC and PDP as terrorist organisations due to their alleged use of violence, intimidation, and subversion of democratic institutions in their pursuit of political power.
Falana underscored that Nigeria’s Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 defines terrorism as politically motivated violence and coercion practices he argues have become pervasive features of elections in Nigeria. He accused the two major parties of rigging elections, announcing fake results, and employing armed thugs, police, and military personnel to intimidate voters without facing prosecution.
The activist criticized the dismissive responses from the APC and PDP, where the APC called the judge "ignorant" and the PDP labeled the ruling "mischievous." He urged them to adopt legal measures to refute the designation instead of attacking the judiciary.
Falana warned that the ruling carries significant consequences, including the risk of visa denials and deportation for party members abroad, especially if other countries adopt the Canadian court’s stance. He called on the Nigerian government to engage immigration lawyers to counter the "stigma of infamy" and to enforce electoral laws strictly to restore public confidence.