On June 17, 2025, in Ontario, Canada, a Federal Court delivered a verdict that Nigerians cannot afford to ignore. The ruling was not about a coup, insurgency, or armed terrorism. Instead, it examined Nigeria’s politics and concluded that the nation’s two dominant parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), have engaged in systemic violence and sabotage so severe that, under Canadian law, their actions equate to terrorism.
The Case That Sparked Global Debate
The judgment followed the asylum case of Douglas Egharevba, a former PDP member who fled Nigeria citing political persecution. Madam Justice Phuong T.V. Ngo upheld evidence showing that both APC and PDP have long histories of political violence, ranging from ballot stuffing and voter intimidation to violent suppression of opposition voices. She ruled that even party membership could render Nigerians inadmissible under Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
Rejecting the excuse that violence is “normal in Nigerian politics,” the judge declared such reasoning “circular and paradoxical.” Her ruling underscored a painful truth: when corruption and violence become the rule, democracy ceases to exist.
Why Nigerians Must Pay Attention
This verdict did not come from an activist or opposition figure. It came from a neutral court applying international law. Nigerians may dismiss it as foreign interference, but doing so would ignore its significance. The ruling reflects what many citizens already know, that since 1999, Nigeria’s political space has been controlled not by genuine parties, but by entrenched cartels.
What a True Political Party Should Be
In political science, a party is an organized group united by ideology and values. It should educate members, enforce discipline, and serve the nation’s interests. Nigerian parties, however, function as electoral machines and personality cults, rather than ideological movements. This explains why governance feels unchanged, whether PDP or APC holds power.
The Two Choices Before 2027
1. Reform From Within
Citizens, especially youths, can join existing parties to demand charters, transparent primaries, and strict punishments for vote buying or violence. They must insist that ideology, not godfatherism, determines leadership.
2. Build Beyond the Cartels
Alternatively, Nigerians can rally around smaller, disciplined parties with clear principles. Though initial victories may be difficult, consistent grassroots movements can establish a democratic culture over time.
Rebuilding Nigeria Starts With Rebuilding Parties
Until Nigeria fixes its broken party structures, governance will remain defective. Parties must stop being platforms for recycled elites and start functioning as factories that train and produce credible leaders.
Key steps include:
Legislation linking party registration to internal democracy.
INEC audits of constitutions and enforcement of compliance.
Civic campaigns that educate citizens on the true role of political parties.
Conclusion: A Mirror We Cannot Ignore
That a Canadian court could classify Nigeria’s ruling parties as violent actors should embarrass the judiciary, electoral institutions, and political elite. Yet embarrassment alone will not spark change.
The real question is whether Nigerians will seize this as a turning point. If reforms are ignored, the 2027 elections will simply recycle the same failures. To rescue democracy, citizens must reclaim political parties, transforming them into true ideological platforms that serve the people, not power brokers.
We can continue with this masquerade of democracy, or we can crash it, rewrite the rules, and rebuild a system worthy of Nigeria’s future.
By Dr. Bolaji O. Akinyemi
Apostle, Nation Builder, President of Voice of His Word Ministries, Convener of Apostolic Round Table, and Chairman, Project Victory Call Initiative (PVC Naija).
📧 Email: [email protected]
📱 Phone: +2348033041236
🌐 Socials: Facebook – Bolaji Akinyemi | X – Bolaji O Akinyemi | Instagram – bolajioakinyemi
