…labeling Nigerian political parties as terror groups unjustified – PDP, the judge is an ignoramus – APC
Reactions have continued to trail the Federal Court of Canada’s judgment, labelling the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as terrorist organizations.
The APC, PDP and a Communications expert and consultant, Mr. Olufemi Soneye have fired back at Justice Phuong Ngo’s judgment.
Sen. Ajibola Basiru, APC National Secretary described him as an ignoramus.
Persecondnews reports that the Canadian court had reportedly upheld a ruling that classified the APC and PDP as terrorist organisations, while denying asylum to a former member, Douglas Egharevba, over his decade-long affiliation with both parties.
In a judgment delivered on June 17, 2025, Justice Ngo had dismissed Egharevba’s application for judicial review after the Immigration Appeal Division (IAD), found him inadmissible under Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA).
According to a report by the Peoples Gazette, the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness had argued that the APC and PDP were implicated in political violence, subversion of democracy and electoral bloodshed in Nigeria.
Reacting to the judgement, Basiru said: “The presiding judge must be an ignoramus! We are not party to the suit and the court has no jurisdiction to determine the status of a Nigerian recognised political party, not to talk of declaring it as a terrorist organization.”
According to him, the APC is a credible democratic political organisation.
He said: “It is unfortunate that some desperate and unpatriotic Nigerians will allow the name of the country to be brought to unpalatable commentary by racist judges on account of self contrived application for asylum.
“The so-called judgement was obviously delivered from a jaundiced perspective and within the narrow confines of determining eligibility for asylum by an applicant.
“The APC is a credible democratic political organisation and does not seek legitimacy from a foreign bench and under a law that has no extra territorial application.”
On its part, The PDP described the claim that it is a terrorist organisation as ‘misinformed, biased, and lacking evidence,’ urging that it be dismissed outright.
PDP Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, speaking to journalists on on Thursday, August 14, in Abuja, said: “Nigeria and Canada are both democracies. And I am sure those who make such statements enjoy their right to freedom of speech. But again, when having freedom of speech, one should be circumspect about unguarded and unnecessary statements.
“There is nothing to show, there is nothing on text to show that even the malfunctioning APC is a terrorist organisation or the PDP, which is a credible institution.
“If they wanted to say that some individuals in the government, particularly the APC government, have traces to terrorism, like we all are aware where the last Boko Haram leader was caught in one of the prominent members of this government’s apartment house, they will have a case.
“And I would say, yes, those individuals have ties to terrorists and terrorist organisations. But to say an entire political party is a terrorist organisation is wrong.”
Osadolor urged Canadian authorities to focus on specific allegations against individuals rather than making sweeping accusations.
Also, former Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Ltd, Mr. Olufemi Soneye decried the dangerous precedent the court verdict has set.
Soneye, in the article published on Thursday, August 14, said it was a “political earthquake” with consequences that could reverberate far beyond Canada’s borders, warning that “if democratic nations do not push back on this kind of overreach, they may one day find their own politics on trial in a foreign court.”
“For Nigerians abroad, especially those who have ever held a party membership card, it signals heightened scrutiny, denied visas, and rejected asylum claims not only in Canada but potentially in other Western democracies that may follow suit.
“Even more alarming is what this means for democracy. Labeling established political parties as terrorist organisations undermines their legitimacy at home and abroad.
“It blurs the vital line between dissent and danger, between governance and extremism.
“Once such a label is applied, it can be wielded, domestically or internationally as a tool to silence opposition, suppress political participation, and erode civil liberties,” Soneye stated.
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