The Federal Government of Nigeria has strongly condemned a Canadian Federal Court ruling that designated certain Nigerian political parties as terrorist organizations, describing the decision as “reckless” and an unacceptable interference in Nigeria’s internal affairs.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued the rejection in a statement signed by spokesperson Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa on Friday.
The controversial ruling reportedly stemmed from a case involving Nigerian national Douglas Egharevba, who sought refugee status in Canada in September 2017 under the country’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
The government criticized the court for making broad accusations against entire political parties rather than focusing on specific individuals.
“This baseless classification is not only reckless but also constitutes an unacceptable interference in Nigeria’s internal affairs and democratic processes,” the statement read. “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 government warned that the ruling could wrongly portray all members of the affected parties as potential terrorists, calling the implication “completely false and unacceptable.” It emphasized Nigeria’s sovereignty, noting that political parties operate legally within the country’s constitutional framework and contribute to its vibrant democracy.
“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 statement continued.
The Ministry urged Canadian authorities to retract the designation immediately, stating, “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.”
While maintaining that diplomatic channels remain open for resolution, Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to global counterterrorism efforts and asked the international community to disregard the court’s decision.
“Nigeria remains committed to the global fight against terrorism and has made significant strides in countering extremist groups within its borders,” the statement noted.
The government also cautioned Nigerians abroad against making false claims about their country to secure asylum or foreign favors, advising, “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.”
