Canadian court upholds APC, PDP as terrorist-linked; denies asylum to ex-member

Former Nigerian politician loses asylum bid in Canada
A Federal Court in Canada has upheld a ruling that classifies Nigeria’s two dominant political parties—the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)—as organisations linked to terrorism and democratic subversion.

As a result, Douglas Egharevba, a former member of both parties, has been denied asylum and now faces deportation.

Court: Party affiliation alone triggers inadmissibility
In a decision delivered on June 17, 2025, Justice Phuong Ngo ruled that Egharevba’s membership in the APC and PDP—regardless of whether he personally committed any crimes—was sufficient grounds for inadmissibility under Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA).

Specifically, Section 34(1)(f) of the IRPA bars individuals affiliated with groups involved in terrorism or subversion of democracy.

Violence, voter suppression cited
Canadian immigration authorities and the Minister of Public Safety pointed to intelligence reports and historical evidence of political violence, killings, and electoral fraud linked to both the APC and PDP.

The Immigration Appeal Division (IAD) focused on the PDP’s role during the 2003 and 2004 elections, accusing the party of widespread voter intimidation, ballot rigging, and failure to curb violence that allegedly benefited its leadership.

Egharevba was a PDP member from 1999 to 2007, before switching to the APC until 2017, when he moved to Canada.

“Flawed or not, Nigerian elections are democratic” – Court
The court dismissed Egharevba’s argument that all Nigerian political parties engaged in electoral violence, stating that Canadian law still recognises Nigeria’s elections as part of a democratic process—making any attempts to undermine them legally significant.

The judge emphasized that even if violence is common, individuals tied to parties benefiting from such actions can be held accountable under Canadian immigration laws.

Deportation likely next step
With his judicial review denied, Egharevba’s asylum claim has collapsed, and deportation proceedings are expected to follow.

The case marks a precedent-setting moment, effectively framing involvement in Nigeria’s major parties as a legal liability in Canada’s asylum system.