By: Oluwaseun Lawal

Big news out of Canada. A federal court there just declared Nigeria’s two biggest political parties—the ruling APC and the opposition PDP—as terrorist organizations. Yeah, you read that right. Terrorist groups. This came up during the asylum case of Douglas Egharevba, a former member of both parties, whose application was denied because of his political ties.

The PDP didn’t take this lightly. They slammed the ruling as “misinformed, biased, and lacking evidence.” Timothy Osadolor, PDP’s Deputy National Youth Leader, told Vanguard that such sweeping claims are unfair and dangerous. “Nigeria and Canada are both democracies,” he said, “and freedom of speech doesn’t mean you throw around baseless accusations.” He stressed that while some individuals might have shady links, labeling entire parties as terrorists? That’s just wrong.

Then there’s Olufemi Soneye, former NNPC communications chief, who called the ruling a “political earthquake.” He warned this sets a scary precedent—one that could ripple far beyond Canada’s borders. Imagine if other countries start doing the same. “No political party anywhere would be safe,” he said. Soneye pointed out how this blurs the line between political disagreement and actual terrorism, threatening democracy itself.

The court’s decision was based on allegations of political violence, ballot rigging, and intimidation linked to the parties, especially during early 2000s elections. But critics argue the judgment ignores the complexity of Nigerian politics and unfairly brands mainstream parties as extremists.

For Nigerians abroad, this ruling could mean more visa denials, tougher asylum claims, and a cloud of suspicion just for being affiliated with APC or PDP. It’s a chilling message to young Nigerians who want to engage in politics without fear.

Soneye’s message is clear: this isn’t just about one man’s asylum case. It’s a dangerous step that threatens democratic values worldwide. If left unchecked, foreign courts might start deciding who’s “terrorist” and who’s not—turning politics into a global courtroom drama.

So yeah, the fallout is just beginning. And Nigeria’s democracy? It’s caught right in the middle.