Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has stated that the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) must urgently take legal steps to prove they are not terrorist organizations, following a recent Canadian court ruling that labeled them as such.

In a statement on Monday, Falana emphasized that instead of criticizing the Canadian court, the political parties should clear their names. “As a matter of urgency, the APC and PDP should adopt legal measures to prove they are not terrorist organisations,” he urged.

Falana linked the court’s decision to Nigeria’s history of electoral violence and political impunity, asserting that it validates the Canadian court’s ruling. He noted, “It is common knowledge that both APC and PDP rig elections and announce fake results with the assistance of armed police and soldiers.”

He also recalled past comments from political leaders that have contributed to a culture of electoral violence, reinforcing the court’s findings regarding the ruling parties.

Additionally, Falana criticized the Nigerian government for its biased application of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act, noting that unarmed citizens arrested during protests face terrorism charges while corrupt politicians go unpunished.

He warned that the Canadian ruling could have international repercussions, potentially affecting asylum applications from Nigerians linked to the APC or PDP and leading to visa revocations.

Falana called on the federal government to act swiftly to address the situation, urging them to hire immigration lawyers to mitigate the negative impact of the ruling.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has demanded that Canadian authorities retract the designation of Nigerian political parties as terrorist organizations, labeling it erroneous.