The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has strongly rejected a Canadian Federal Court decision that designated Nigeria’s two main political parties—the PDP and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)—as terrorist organisations.
PDP National Executive Committee member Timothy Osadolor said that while the Canadian court was entitled to its opinion, it did not make the allegations true, in an interview with Daily Trust.
“But there is nothing in their opinion and their right to express it that makes whatever they have said true,” Osadolor stated.
He argued that individuals linked to terrorism, especially within the APC, should have been singled out, rather than entire political structures.
“There are credible Nigerians in the APC, not to mention a credible platform like the PDP, which was unfairly lumped together with a party that has brought ignominy to Nigeria and Nigerians.
READ ALSO: Total Loyalty Non-Negotiable, PDP Warns Disloyal Members
“The Canadian government overreached by joining the PDP alongside the APC as a party linked to terrorism,” he said.
Osadolor described the ruling as a “vote of no confidence” in the Tinubu administration.
“President Tinubu may not be linked to terrorism, but his ineptitude and inability to fight it head-on have made him a victim of terror networks currently ravaging Nigerian states.
“Instead of focusing on state security for all Nigerians, over 90 per cent of his efforts have gone into regime security,” he said, calling the ruling “a wake-up call” for the president.
The case stemmed from an asylum application by Douglas Egharevba, a former member of both parties. Canada’s Immigration Appeal Division ruled that political violence, voter intimidation, and killings linked to the PDP and APC met its legal definition of terrorism and subversion of democracy. Justice Phuong Ngo upheld that decision on June 17, 2025.
As of press time, the APC and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had yet to respond.