Femi Falana has urged APC and PDP to prove they are not terrorist organizations.
His call follows a Canadian court ruling that controversially labelled Nigeria’s dominant parties as such.
Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has called on the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to demonstrate that they are not terrorist organizations, following a controversial verdict by a Canadian Federal Court.
In a statement issued on Monday, Falana said both parties must confront the concerns raised instead of dismissing the judgment, which labelled them as entities that have engaged in conduct amounting to terrorism under Canadian law.
The ruling was delivered by Justice Phuong Ngo while rejecting the asylum application of Nigerian citizen, Douglas Egharevba. The judge described Nigeria’s two dominant political parties as “terrorist organizations,” alleging that they rely on violence, intimidation, and manipulation of democratic institutions in their pursuit of power.
Falana stressed that the decision carries serious implications beyond Canada, noting that Nigeria’s Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 defines terrorism to include violence, intimidation, and coercion for political purposes acts he argued are frequently associated with elections in the country.
“It is common knowledge that APC and PDP rig elections and announce fake results with the assistance of armed thugs, police and military personnel,” Falana said. He pointed out that killings and attacks on voters have long tainted the country’s elections, with perpetrators rarely facing justice.
He criticized both parties for their responses the APC describing the judge as “ignorant” and the PDP dismissing the decision as “mischievous.” According to him, such reactions do not address the weighty allegations raised.
“Instead of abusing the Canadian judge, the APC and PDP should urgently adopt legal measures to prove that they are not terrorist organizations,” Falana insisted.
The senior lawyer also advised the Federal Government to quickly involve immigration experts to manage the fallout, warning that the ruling could trigger visa denials and deportations of Nigerians linked to both parties abroad.
“If the ruling is registered in the United States, United Kingdom, France and elsewhere, members of the APC and PDP may have their visas revoked and may be deported,” he cautioned.
Falana added that diplomatic protests would not overturn the judgment. He urged Nigerian courts and security agencies to ensure that political actors and their parties comply strictly with the constitution and electoral laws.
He further emphasized the need for strict enforcement of the Electoral Act and prosecution of electoral offenders, noting that restoring faith in Nigeria’s democracy is vital for its global reputation.
