Nigeria Demands Canada Withdraw ‘Terrorist’ Label on Political Parties

Nigeria Demands Canada Withdraw ‘Terrorist’ Label on Political Parties

The Federal Government of Nigeria has condemned the recent decision by a Canadian Federal Court that reportedly designated certain Nigerian political parties as terrorist organisations, calling the move “reckless” and an unacceptable intrusion into the country’s democratic processes.

In a statement issued on Friday by Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the ruling arose from a case involving Douglas Egharevba, a Nigerian national who arrived in Canada in September 2017 and sought refugee status under the country’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

According to the ministry, the Canadian court made a sweeping generalisation that unfairly implicated all members of a political party that has produced three democratically elected presidents, rather than focusing on individuals proven to be guilty.

The Nigerian government warned that such a blanket designation could lead to millions of innocent party members being wrongly viewed as potential terrorists.

Reaffirming the country’s sovereignty, the statement stressed that Nigeria’s political parties operate under the constitution and play a vital role in the nation’s vibrant democratic system.

“To associate legitimate political entities with terrorism without credible evidence is a grave misrepresentation that undermines Nigeria’s democratic institutions,” the statement read.

The government urged Canada to immediately withdraw the designation and avoid any action that could be perceived as endorsing politically motivated narratives against Nigeria. Diplomatic channels, it added, remain open for dialogue.

Nigeria also reaffirmed its commitment to the global fight against terrorism, calling on the international community to disregard the court ruling. It further advised Nigerians abroad to refrain from making false allegations about their country in order to secure asylum or other benefits from foreign governments.

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