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Nigerian government condemns Canadian court ruling as baseless, accusing it of reckless interference in Nigeria’s democratic processes
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Calls for retraction, stresses political parties operate legally, urges international community to maintain confidence in Nigeria’s governance
The Federal Government has called on the Canadian Federal Court to reverse what it described as an “erroneous and baseless” designation of some Nigerian political parties as terrorist organisations.
The case stems from a matter involving Nigerian national Douglas Egharevba, who arrived in Canada in September 2017 and sought refugee status under the country’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
In a statement issued by Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, the government condemned the classification as “reckless” and an “unacceptable interference” in Nigeria’s internal affairs and democratic processes.
“The court made a sweeping accusation against the entire membership of a political party that has produced three democratically elected presidents, instead of focusing on individuals found culpable,” the statement read. “Labeling legitimate political entities as terrorist groups without credible evidence is a grave misrepresentation that undermines Nigeria’s democracy and could stir unnecessary tension.”
The Federal Government stressed that Nigeria’s political parties operate within the bounds of its legal and constitutional framework and are integral to the nation’s democratic system.
It urged Canadian authorities to retract the designation and avoid actions that could be perceived as supporting politically motivated narratives.
While reaffirming its commitment to combating terrorism, Nigeria called on the international community to disregard the court’s ruling and maintain confidence in its governance and rule of law.
The government also cautioned Nigerian citizens against making unfounded claims about the country to secure asylum or other benefits abroad.