Canada’s Federal Court has reaffirmed a landmark decision designating Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as terrorist entities, while denying refugee status to a former member of both groups. The June 17, 2025, ruling by Justice Phuong Ngo dismissed Douglas Egharevba’s appeal against a prior immigration decision barring him from remaining in Canada due to his political ties.
Authorities determined Egharevba, who belonged to the PDP from 1999 to 2007 and later the APC until 2017, was inadmissible under Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA). The court cited evidence implicating both parties in systemic electoral violence, voter suppression, and killings tied to Nigeria’s 2003 and 2004 elections. Intelligence reports presented by Canada’s Minister of Public Safety noted instances of ballot fraud, intimidation of opponents, and fatal attacks allegedly orchestrated to secure political power.
Justice Ngo emphasized that under IRPA provisions, affiliation with organizations linked to subversion or terrorism—even without direct participation in unlawful acts—warrants exclusion. The ruling rejected Egharevba’s defense that political violence in Nigeria was pervasive across parties, asserting that flawed elections still constitute legitimate democratic processes whose disruption meets Canada’s threshold for “subversion.”
The judgment underscored findings that PDP leadership during the contested polls knowingly benefited from electoral crimes while failing to curb them, a pattern the court said aligned with IRPA’s definitions. Egharevba’s disclosure of his political history during his 2017 asylum application triggered scrutiny, leading immigration officials to invoke national security grounds.
Legal experts note the case reinforces Canada’s stringent approach to individuals associated with groups accused of undermining governance through violence. While Nigeria’s government has not formally responded, the classification could strain diplomatic relations and raise questions about the legal implications for other members of the two dominant parties.
Egharevba’s legal avenues in Canada appear exhausted, with deportation proceedings now imminent. The ruling highlights the growing intersection of immigration policy and international accountability for democratic integrity, setting a precedent for how courts assess membership in organizations accused of political violence.
