Canadian Court Upholds Terrorist Designation for Nigeria’s APC, PDP in Asylum Case

The Federal Court of Canada has upheld a ruling that classifies Nigeria’s two dominant political parties, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), as terrorist organizations under Canadian law, leading to the denial of asylum for a former member.

Douglas Egharevba, who was affiliated with both parties for over a decade, had his appeal for judicial review dismissed by Justice Phuong Ngo on June 17, 2025. The Immigration Appeal Division (IAD) had earlier found him inadmissible under Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA).

According to court documents, the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness argued that both parties were responsible for political violence, democratic subversion, and electoral misconduct in Nigeria. Egharevba had joined the APC in 2017 after serving with the PDP from 1999 to 2007, disclosing his political history after relocating to Canada in September 2017.

Canadian immigration authorities linked his affiliations to intelligence reports alleging that both parties were involved in politically motivated killings and electoral violence. The IAD’s decision cited the PDP’s conduct during the 2003 state and 2004 local government elections, where allegations included ballot stuffing, voter intimidation, and the murder of opposition supporters.

Under IRPA paragraph 34(1)(b.1), the tribunal concluded that party leaders benefited from the violence and failed to prevent it, meeting Canada’s legal definition of subversion. Justice Ngo further affirmed that direct participation is not necessary, membership in an organization associated with terrorism or democratic subversion is enough to trigger inadmissibility under paragraph 34(1)(f).

The court rejected Egharevba’s argument that political violence was endemic across all Nigerian parties. It ruled that undermining elections, however flawed, constitutes subversion since they are recognized as democratic processes under Canadian law.

The decision effectively ends Egharevba’s asylum bid, paving the way for his deportation from Canada.