A federal Canadian court, on 25th June 2025, declared All Progressive Congress(APC) and People’s Democratic Party(PDP) – the two Nigerian leading political parties – terrorist organizations !
This arose from the case of asylum application by Mr Douglas Egbarevba, a Nigerian politician who was once a member of PDP and later, APC. He had sought refuge in Canada, and he cited political persecution as his reason. However, he was denied as a result of his membership to PDP and APC.
The Canadian court held that both PDP and APC have a history of political violence, killings, voter intimidation, ballot stuffing, violent suppression of opposition, ballot box snatching, etc etc.
Truth be told, all the attributes and traits of APC and PDP cited by the Canadian court are tantamount to violence against Nigeria’s electorate – the masses. Hence, it is logical to infer that the Canadian court is correct in its declaration and judgement. I concur !
Terrorism is not only armed attacks, but also any actions intended to intimidate or coerce the public, cause harm, and disrupt public peace. The Canadian court had based its declaration on the political violence, killings, intimidation and harassment of voters, ballot box snatching and other forms of harassment, humiliation and intimidation of voters and the public under the watch of the two political parties. Therefore, it is logically correct to infer that both parties – PDP and APC – are terrorist organizations.
In another development, it is metaphorically correct to declare the two parties terrorist organizations. Metaphor – a figure of speech and a powerful tool in literature and poetry – readily came to my mind as I was reading the judgement.
As I perused, it was worrisome to note that Nigeria is fast becoming a laughing stock before the comity of nations as rigging, violence during elections, snatching of ballot boxes, killings during elections and other electoral malpractices in Nigeria are cited in the judgement. As a nation, we cannot afford to downplay this – it is time for a sober reflection.
It must be noted that the declaration was not made by a Nigerian activist, an opposition politician or a perceived ‘enemy’ of the Nigerian government, but by a neutral body with no partisan interest – hence, it must not be dismissed, nor downplayed. Needless to stress, PDP and APC are the major political parties of the government in Nigeria since 1999. PDP was the federal government’s party from 1999 to 2015. APC took over in 2015.
It will also be recalled that terrorism – boko haram, insurgency – broke out in Nigeria in 2009 when PDP was the federal government’s party. The boko haram and insurgency did not only thrive but also blossomed under APC as the federal government’s party. In addition, another nomenclature of terrorism – banditry – sprang up tormenting both the Nigerian military and the civilians !
Ipso facto, it is metaphorically correct to liken APC and PDP to terrorism.
Without being economical of the truth, this is not the time for any shameful defence, denial, counter-argument, grandstanding, or self-justification by both APC and PDP. Rather, it is time for a sober reflection. A time to reflect deeply on their shameful and evil past with a view to correcting their errors. A time to desist from any form of electoral malpractices and violence that had won them terrorist status by the Canadian court. A time to create room for true and total internal democracy and not the charade and deceit which they are known for. A time to respect, defend, and uphold the rule of law against self-aggrandizement and power-drunkenness. It is a time to genuinely act as a vehicle and agent of positive and genuine change for the defenceless masses. A time to stop the deceit, extortion, harassment, intimidation, deprivation, and short-changing masses. A time to build a pro-masses government. A time to build a genuine democracy – a true democratic government and corruption-free government. A time to desist from crude, crooked, deceitful, dirty, and archaic politics as a result of which Nigeria has become a laughing-stock among the comity of nations. In fact, it is a time to build a true democracy.
Indeed, it is high time APC and PDP redeemed their image!
■ Dapo Atoki (08064172743) is the co-ordinator, CENTRE FOR LIBERTY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE, Lagos.
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