Canadian Court’s Ruling on APC and PDP as Terrorist Organizations

On June 17, 2025, Justice Phuong Ngo upheld the Immigration Appeal Division’s (IAD) decision to deny asylum to Douglas Egharevba, a former PDP (1999–2007) and APC (2007–2017) member, under Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA)

The Court Ruling Bolsters Amnesty International’s South-East Nigeria Report, Exposing Tinubu’s Illegitimate Regime

A landmark decision by the Federal Court of Canada, classifying Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as terrorist organizations, has been vindicated by an updated Amnesty International report documenting over 33,000 Biafran deaths in Nigeria’s South-East since January 2021.

The Canadian ruling, upheld on June 17, 2025, aligns with Amnesty’s findings of systemic violence and war crimes under the APC-led government of President Bola Tinubu, whose legitimacy is increasingly questioned. Activist APM Oge Nkere,of the Biafra Republic Government in Exile (BRGIE), has hailed the court’s decision as validation of his accusations of genocide and illegitimacy against Tinubu’s regime, citing the military’s violations of rules of engagement and state-sponsored abuses.

Canadian Court’s Ruling: A Justified Condemnation

On June 17, 2025, Justice Phuong Ngo upheld the Immigration Appeal Division’s (IAD) decision to deny asylum to Douglas Egharevba, a former PDP (1999–2007) and APC (2007–2017) member, under Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA). The IAD classified the APC and PDP as terrorist organizations based on intelligence reports linking them to electoral violence and politically motivated killings.

The ruling cited the PDP’s involvement in ballot stuffing, voter intimidation, and killings during the 2003 state elections and 2004 local government polls, noting that party leadership benefited from and failed to address the violence, meeting IRPA’s definition of subversion under paragraph 34(1)(b.1).

The APC was similarly implicated in orchestrating violence to maintain power. Justice Ngo affirmed that mere membership in such organizations triggers inadmissibility under IRPA paragraph 34(1)(f), regardless of personal involvement, a stance that underscores the systemic nature of Nigeria’s political violence.

The Canadian court’s decision reflects a growing international recognition of the APC and PDP’s roles in undermining Nigeria’s democracy through violent means, particularly under Tinubu’s administration, which faces accusations of electoral fraud and illegitimacy. The ruling validates concerns about the APC’s governance, which has overseen a surge in human rights abuses, as detailed by Amnesty International.

Amnesty International’s Report: Purports Evidence of Tinubu’s Illegitimate Rule

The Amnesty International report, *A Decade of Impunity: Attacks and Unlawful Killings in South-East Nigeria*, covering January 2021 to August 2025, documents a staggering 33,000 Biafran deaths, exposing the scale of violence under Tinubu’s APC-led government. The report accuses the Nigerian military of systemic violations of rules of engagement during operations like *Operation Python Dance* (2016, 2017) and *Operation Udo Ka* (2023), including arbitrary arrests, torture, extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances, and destruction of homes, primarily targeting suspected BRGIE supporters. These acts, classified as war crimes and potential crimes against humanity, highlight the illegitimacy of a regime that relies on brute force to suppress dissent.

The state-backed Ebube Agu paramilitary, established by APC-affiliated South-East governors in April 2021, is also implicated in arbitrary arrests, torture, unlawful killings, extortion, and property destruction, further evidencing the APC’s complicity in state-sponsored violence. The report notes that communities like Agwa, Izombe (Imo State), and Lilu (Anambra State) have become “ungoverned spaces” due to the government’s failure to address the crisis, which Amnesty describes as a “hybrid of criminal and political violence.” Cult-related killings in Anambra towns like Obosi, Awka, Onitsha, Ogidi, and Umuoji, and grazing disputes in Enugu and Ebonyi, compound the chaos under Tinubu’s watch.

Apm Oge Nkere’s Accusations: Tinubu’s Illegitimacy Exposed

BRGIE APM OGE NKERE

Nkere has seized on the Canadian ruling and Amnesty’s report to denounce Tinubu’s government as illegitimate, accusing it of perpetrating a genocide against Biafrans. He points to the 33,000 deaths as evidence of a deliberate campaign to eradicate the Igbo population, facilitated by a fraudulent 2023 election that many, including Nkere, claim was rigged to install Tinubu. The Canadian court’s classification of the APC as a terrorist organization bolsters Nkere’s argument that Tinubu’s regime lacks moral and legal legitimacy, relying on violence to maintain power. He contrasts the BLA’s disciplined adherence to international standards with the military’s lawlessness, citing Amnesty’s evidence of impunity as proof of Tinubu’s complicity in war crimes.

Nkere’s accusations resonate with broader criticisms from figures like former Minister Oby Ezekwesili, who condemned the government’s “zero duty of care” for victims, and Peter Obi, who described Nigeria’s security crisis as a “state of war.” The Canadian ruling amplifies these concerns, exposing the APC’s role in undermining democracy through violence and electoral subversion.

Nigeria’s Defense Falls Flat

PDP Deputy National Youth Leader Timothy Osadolor called the Canadian ruling “unfounded and unjustified,” arguing that both parties are legitimate democratic institutions. He acknowledged potential ties between individuals in the APC-led government and terrorism—citing the arrest of a Boko Haram leader in a prominent APC member’s residence—but rejected blanket labels for entire parties. Similarly, former NNPC Ltd official Olufemi Soneye warned that the ruling sets a dangerous precedent, risking strained Canada-Nigeria relations and stigmatizing Nigerians abroad. However, these defenses are undermined by Amnesty’s evidence of systemic violence under APC governance, which aligns with the Canadian court’s findings of politically motivated killings and subversion.

Global Implications and Call for Justice

The Canadian court’s ruling, supported by Amnesty’s documentation of 33,000 Biafran deaths, underscores the illegitimacy of Tinubu’s regime and the broader failure of Nigeria’s political system. The designation of the APC and PDP as terrorist organizations highlights their roles in perpetuating violence and eroding democratic norms, validating international scrutiny of Nigeria’s governance. The ruling risks chilling political participation among Nigerians, particularly youths, who face visa denials and asylum rejections due to party affiliations, but it also signals the need for accountability.

Amnesty International demands independent investigations into war crimes, prosecution of perpetrators, and reparations for victims, urging Nigeria to address the root causes of the South-East crisis—political marginalization, economic exclusion, and impunity. Nkere calls for global recognition of Biafra’s right to self-determination, arguing that Western support for Nigeria’s unity enables Tinubu’s genocidal policies.

The combined weight of the Canadian ruling and Amnesty’s findings exposes Tinubu’s government as a regime sustained by violence rather than democratic legitimacy, necessitating urgent international intervention to halt the South-East’s humanitarian catastrophe and restore justice.