Ottawa, Canada – The Federal Court of Canada has upheld a landmark decision designating Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as terrorist organizations under the country’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA).
In a ruling delivered on June 17, 2025, Justice Phuong Ngo denied asylum to Douglas Egharevba, a former member of both parties, citing their documented involvement in electoral violence, democratic subversion, and politically motivated intimidation.
Egharevba, 48, arrived in Canada in September 2017, claiming political persecution in Nigeria. In his application, he disclosed that he was a PDP member from 1999 to 2007 and later joined the APC from 2007 to 2017, participating in grassroots mobilization and campaign activities in Edo State.
However, Canadian immigration authorities flagged his political affiliations, referencing intelligence reports that linked both parties to violence, voter suppression, ballot stuffing, and electoral fraud—particularly during the 2003 state elections and 2004 local government polls.
The court based its decision on sections 34(1)(b.1) and 34(1)(f) of the IRPA, which prohibit entry to individuals associated with organizations engaged in terrorism or subversion of democratic processes. Justice Ngo stressed that mere membership in such organizations—regardless of personal involvement in violence—meets the threshold for inadmissibility under Canadian law.
Egharevba argued that political violence is endemic in Nigeria and that flawed elections should not be considered “democratic processes.” He also insisted that his contributions were administrative and non-violent. The court rejected these arguments, ruling that even flawed elections are recognized as democratic processes in law, and undermining them constitutes subversion.
The decision has far-reaching implications. Legal experts warn it could complicate asylum claims for Nigerian politicians or members of either party, as Canada’s strict immigration criteria now explicitly target affiliations with the APC or PDP.
Reactions in Nigeria have been mixed. APC spokesperson Alhaji Musa Abdullahi described the ruling as “an unfair generalization that undermines our democratic achievements,” while PDP National Publicity Secretary Chika Nwankwo called it “a misrepresentation of our party’s history.” Civil society groups, however, point to Nigeria’s well-documented record of electoral violence, with Human Rights Watch estimating over 600 deaths in the 2003 elections alone.
With no further avenues for appeal, Egharevba now faces deportation to Nigeria, where he fears retaliation due to the country’s volatile political climate. His lawyer, Sarah Omoregie, condemned the decision, saying, “This ruling punishes individuals for systemic political problems beyond their control.”
The case highlights Canada’s uncompromising approach to immigration security and sets a precedent that could influence how other countries view Nigeria’s political system. For Egharevba, however, the ruling leaves his future hanging in the balance.
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