Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has challenged the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to prove that they are not terrorist organisations, following a controversial ruling by a Canadian Federal Court which described both parties as entities that have engaged in conduct amounting to terrorism under Canadian law.
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Falana made the call in a statement issued on Monday, urging Nigeria’s major political parties to address the serious concerns raised, rather than dismissing the judge’s pronouncements as ignorant or mischievous.
The Canadian judge, Justice Phuong Ngo, made the declaration while dismissing the asylum appeal of a Nigerian, Douglas Egharevba, ruling that Nigeria’s two main political parties — APC and PDP were “terrorist organisations” because they allegedly use violence, coercion, and subversion of democratic institutions in their bid to acquire political power.
Falana noted that the ruling carries far-reaching consequences beyond judicial recognition, stressing that under Nigeria’s Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022, terrorism includes the use of violence, intimidation, or coercive tactics with political or ideological motives actions which he argued have become common features of elections in the country.
“It is common knowledge that APC and PDP rig elections and announce fake results with the assistance of armed thugs, police, and military personnel,” Falana said, adding that violence, killings, and attacks on voters have repeatedly marred electoral processes without perpetrators being brought to justice.
The activist criticised both parties for their immediate reactions to the ruling with the APC calling the judge “ignorant” and the PDP describing the decision as “mischievous” saying these responses failed to address the substantive issues raised.
“Instead of abusing the Canadian judge, the APC and PDP should urgently adopt legal measures to prove that they are not terrorist organisations,” he stated.
Falana further advised the Federal Government to urgently engage immigration lawyers to intervene in the matter, warning that the ruling could lead to widespread denial of visas or deportation of Nigerians abroad who are members of the APC and PDP.
“If the ruling is registered in the United States, United Kingdom, France, and elsewhere, members of the APC and PDP may have their visas revoked and may be deported,” he said.
He argued that the Federal Government’s protest to the Canadian authorities would not reverse the judgment and urged Nigerian security agencies and judges to compel political parties and their members to operate strictly within constitutional and legal boundaries, particularly during elections.
“The Federal Government should hire immigration lawyers to take urgent action to remove the stigma of infamy contained in the judgment. The collateral damage will certainly affect other citizens since the government of their homeland has been sponsored by two terrorist political parties,” Falana warned.
He called for stronger enforcement of the Electoral Act and the prosecution of election violators, stressing that Nigeria must restore confidence in its democratic processes both at home and abroad.
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