The Federal Government has strongly criticised a recent Canadian Federal Court ruling that classified some Nigerian political parties as “terrorist organisations,” describing it as reckless, baseless, and an unacceptable intrusion into Nigeria’s internal affairs.
In a statement released on Friday, August 15, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa said the judgment was connected to an immigration case involving Nigerian national Douglas Egharevba, who arrived in Canada in 2017 seeking refugee status.
The court, in its ruling, linked certain political organisations in Nigeria to terrorism.
FG condemned the ruling, insisting it wrongly targeted legitimate political entities instead of individuals accused of wrongdoing.
“The Court made a sweeping accusation against the entire membership of a political party that has produced three democratically elected presidents, instead of focusing on individuals found wanting.
“The larger ramification of the decision is that every member of the mentioned political parties is a potential terrorist, and that is completely false and unacceptable,” the statement noted.
The government stressed that Nigeria’s political system is anchored on a strong legal and constitutional framework, with all recognised parties operating within the law. It warned that such a ruling could fuel misinformation and heighten tensions.
“Nigeria is a sovereign nation with a robust legal and constitutional framework governing political activities. Our political parties operate within the ambit of the law and are integral to the country’s vibrant democracy.
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“To associate legitimate political entities with terrorism without credible evidence is a grave misrepresentation that undermines Nigeria’s democratic institutions and could incite unnecessary tension.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria, therefore, calls on the Canadian authorities to immediately retract this erroneous designation and refrain from actions that could be misconstrued as endorsing politically motivated narratives against Nigeria.
“Diplomatic channels remain open for constructive dialogue, and we urge the Government of Canada to engage with the relevant Nigerian institutions to rectify this error,” said Ebienfa.
Reaffirming its opposition to terrorism, FG cited its ongoing anti-extremism efforts and urged the international community to disregard the ruling.
It also cautioned Nigerians abroad against misrepresenting the country to gain asylum or other immigration benefits.
“Nigeria remains committed to the global fight against terrorism and has made significant strides in countering extremist groups within its borders; therefore, called on the international community to disregard this misguided ruling and reaffirm its confidence in Nigeria’s democratic governance and rule of law.
“The government further urges Nigerian nationals to refrain from making unfounded allegations against Nigeria under the pretext of seeking asylum or favours from foreign entities,” the statement concluded.