Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has challenged Nigeria’s two leading parties — the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) — to go beyond insults and prove wrong the Canadian court that branded them terrorist organisations.
The Canadian Federal Court, in a ruling by Justice Phuong Ngo, had described the APC and PDP as political groups that engage in terrorism-like conduct, citing their use of violence, coercion, and subversion of democratic institutions to seize power. The declaration was made while dismissing an asylum appeal by a Nigerian, Douglas Egharevba.
Falana, reacting on Monday, said the pronouncement cannot simply be waved aside as ignorance or mischief. He noted that under Nigeria’s own Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022, terrorism includes violence, intimidation, and coercive tactics for political gain — acts that, unfortunately, have become regular features of elections in the country.
“It is common knowledge that APC and PDP rig elections and announce fake results with the backing of armed thugs, police, and even military personnel,” he stressed, pointing out that voters have often been attacked or killed during polls without justice being served.
Instead of trading insults with the Canadian judge, Falana urged both parties to adopt legal measures and show evidence that they are not, in fact, terrorist organisations. He argued that their current dismissive responses only sidestep the serious issues raised, leaving unanswered questions about their conduct in Nigeria’s democratic process.
