Prove You're Not Terrorist Organizations – Falana To APC, PDP

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has challenged Nigeria’s two dominant political parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to legally clear their names after a Canadian court branded them terrorist organisations.

Falana said the parties must act immediately rather than resort to dismissing or insulting the court that delivered the ruling. 

According to him, the judgment carries weight and could have serious international consequences for both parties and their members.

“The APC and PDP should not waste energy abusing the Canadian judge. What is required of them is to take urgent legal steps to demonstrate that they are not terrorist groups,” Falana stressed.

The senior lawyer linked the decision of the Canadian court to Nigeria’s troubled political history, citing decades of electoral malpractice, violence, and impunity by ruling parties. 

He argued that violent elections and the absence of accountability for politically motivated killings provide fertile ground for such international designations.

“It is no secret that elections in Nigeria are often manipulated by both APC and PDP with the backing of security forces. 

"Citizens who resist such fraudulent practices are brutalised or killed, while the masterminds are left untouched,” he noted.

Falana reminded Nigerians of past inflammatory remarks by political leaders, such as former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s infamous “do-or-die” description of the 2003 polls and President Bola Tinubu’s 2023 directive to his supporters to “fight for power, grab it, snatch it and run with it.” 

He said these statements, combined with recurrent violence, give credence to the Canadian court’s position.

He also accused the Nigerian government of double standards in its application of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act, pointing out that peaceful protesters during the #EndHardship demonstrations still face terrorism charges, while politicians implicated in large-scale corruption that contributes to mass poverty and deaths are not held accountable.

Falana further warned that the ruling, if not overturned, could extend beyond Canada and affect Nigerians globally. 

He explained that asylum claims from individuals linked to either APC or PDP may be rejected, and party members risk deportation or visa restrictions in countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, and France.

“If urgent legal action is not taken, this judgment may be registered in other Western countries. The ripple effect could mean deportations, visa denials, and a wider stigma for Nigerians at large, since their governments have been dominated by these two parties,” he cautioned.

He urged the federal government to move swiftly, advising that immigration lawyers be engaged to challenge the ruling and protect Nigeria’s image. 

“The collateral damage will not be limited to APC and PDP members alone; it could affect ordinary citizens as well,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian government has rejected the Canadian court’s classification and demanded that Canadian authorities retract what it described as an “erroneous and damaging” decision.