The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has strongly rejected a Canadian Federal Court ruling that classified it and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as terrorist organizations. The PDP described the claim as “misinformed, biased, and lacking evidence” and urged for its outright dismissal.
This ruling came as part of a decision on June 17, 2025, when the Federal Court of Canada dismissed an asylum application by Douglas Egharevba, a former member of both parties, stating that his affiliation rendered him inadmissible to Canada under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA). Justice Phuong Ngo upheld a prior Immigration Appeal Division (IAD) finding that both Nigerian political parties engaged in acts of political violence and intimidation aimed at political objectives.
Responding to the verdict, PDP Deputy National Youth Leader Timothy Osadolor emphasized the necessity for cautious speech, noting there is no concrete evidence to label PDP or APC as terrorist organizations. He acknowledged that while some individuals, particularly within the APC government, might have connections to terrorism as seen with the arrest of a Boko Haram leader in the residence of a prominent government member this does not implicate the entire parties.
Olufemi Soneye, former Chief Corporate Communications Officer at NNPC Ltd, described the ruling as a “political earthquake” with far-reaching consequences beyond Canada’s borders, warning that unchecked judicial overreach could lead to democratic politics worldwide being tried in foreign courts.
The Canadian court's finding marks a controversial and unprecedented stance on Nigeria’s major political parties, spotlighting deep international concerns over the nation’s political violence and electoral malpractices while igniting debates on the implications for Nigerian politics and international perceptions.