08/19/2025
No Cho Cho Cho No Shala Shala, Falana Tell APC, PDP: Show Say Una No Be Terrorist Groups Like Canadian Court Talk
Popular better human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), don vex talk say make Nigeria ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC), and di opposition, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), prove say dem no be terrorist organizations as one Canadian court bin yarn. Falana talk say instead of dem to dey throw insult, make di two parties sharp sharp use legal means take clear their name from dis Canadian court wahala.
For statement wey im drop on Monday, Falana yarn say no be time to dey abuse di Canadian judge, but make APC and PDP quick quick find legal way to show say dem no be terrorist groups. E say, “Instead of yabbing di Canadian judge, APC and PDP suppose, as matter of urgency, use legal measures take prove say dem no be terrorist organizations.” Dis talk come afta SaharaReporters bin report say one Canadian Federal Court uphold ruling wey call di two parties terrorists, say dem dey do things wey fit pass for terrorism and subversion of democratic institutions.
Falana warn say if dem no set aside dis ruling, e fit register for places like United States, UK, France, and e go cause big wahala, like dem fit deport APC and PDP members or cancel their visas. Im talk say, “Di government need to hire immigration lawyers sharp sharp to remove dis bad name wey di Canadian court don give. Di wahala wey dis judgement go cause go touch even ordinary citizens, as dem go feel say na two terrorist parties dey run their country.”
Im still connect dis Canadian court talk to how Nigeria elections dey always get violence and rigging. E yarn say, “Everybody know say APC and PDP dey rig elections, announce fake results with help from armed thugs, police, and soldiers. People wey dey complain about rigging, dem dey attack and kpai dem, and nobody dey punish di culprits.” Im even mention former President Olusegun Obasanjo wey call 2003 election “do-or-die affair” and President Bola Tinubu wey tell supporters for 2023 to “fight for power, grab am, sn**ch am, and run with am.”
But some reports, like from PREMIUM TIMES, talk say di Canadian court no directly call APC and PDP terrorist organizations. Dem say di court focus mainly on PDP, based on their actions during 2003 and 2004 elections, wey involve ballot stuffing, voter intimidation, and killing of opposition supporters. Di court, led by Justice Phuong Ngo, dismiss one Nigerian man, Douglas Egharevba, asylum case, say im membership for PDP (1999-2007) and APC (till 2017) make am inadmissible under Canada Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA). Dem yarn say di court no indict APC as much, since APC just start for 2013, but di ruling still mention dem.
Falana still yarn say Nigerian government need to act fast, hire immigration lawyers to fight dis stigma, and make sure dem enforce Electoral Act well to stop election violence. Im talk say, “Dis ruling fit make APC and PDP members abroad face visa wahala or deportation, and e go affect Nigeria image bad bad.” Im call on security agencies and judges to hold politicians accountable, so Nigeria fit restore confidence in democracy both for house and outside.
APC and PDP don react, call di Canadian court ruling “ignorant” and “mischievous,” but Falana say dem dey dodge di main issue. PDP deputy national youth leader, Timothy Osadolor, talk say di ruling no get evidence and dem suppose dismiss am, while APC national secretary, Ajibola Bashiru, say dem no need validation from foreign court. Falana insist say instead of all dis mouth, dem suppose go court prove their innocence, and government must act to protect citizens from di fallout of dis judgement.
