*BEING THE COMMUNIQUE ISSUED BY COMMITTEE FOR THE DEFENCE OF HUMAN RIGHTS (CDHR) ON ITS ANNUAL GENERAL CONFERENCE (AGC).* 





The Leadership and Delegates to the Annual General Conference (AGC) of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) wish to inform all members of the organization and the general public and announce the outcome of the just concluded 2025 AGC which goes thus: 


The committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) Nigeria's foremost Civil Society Organization concluded its 2025 Annual General Conference (AGC) on Saturday 24th January, 2026 at MARIDOM Palace Hotel in Ota, Ogun State. 



The conference was held under the evocative theme: “Human Rights as our Everyday Essentials: Fundamental, Inviolable, Indiscriminate.” 



The landmark event had delegates from 27 state branches of the organization, who came from across different parts of the country to participate in the election of a new National Executive Council (NEC) to lead the struggle for social justice over the next two years term. 

The decisions aimed at moving the organization forward was reached and adopted, after series of deliberations and brainstorming.


 During the business section of the National Council (NC), Lagos State Branch and Delta State Branch elections were ratified and upheld by the NC. 


The National Council (NC) passed a motion to dissolve the Board of Trustees (BOT), followed by the election of a new five-member board, comprising: Barrister Olasupo Ojo, Comrade Debo Adeniran, Prof. Lucky Akarueze, Barrister. Gbenga Awosode and Barrister Femi Falana, SAN.


The conference featured a hard-hitting and thought provoking keynote address by renowned activist and legal luminary a former President of CDHR in the person of Barrister Olasupo Ojo. 


In his charge, Barrister Ojo challenged the "scholastic" nature of international human rights themes, arguing that they often fail to address the peculiar realities of Africans. Speaking on his address, "the adoption of general themes only succeeds in burying the different realities of different peoples," Ojo stated. 


He further lamented that while the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights remains a global standard, the Nigerian reality is marred by a governance system that prioritizes religious structures and elite interests over basic rights like healthcare and education. Ojo warned against the rise of "Cyber-rats", state-sponsored actors used to stifle dissent on social media, and urged the CDHR to return to its roots of intensive education in markets, motor parks, and campuses. "The people must not sleep and must not allow the governments to rest," he concluded. 


In his welcome address, the President of the organization, Comrade Debo Adeniran reaffirmed that human rights are not luxuries for the powerful but "everyday necessities as vital as food and shelter." 


The new National Executive Committee of the CDHR elected at the AGC to steer the affairs of the organisation for another 2 years are: 

Comrade Debo Adeniran (National President), Comrade Godwin Anyebe (Vice President), Comrade Deji Adebowale (General Secretary), Comrade Imrana Yahaya (Assistant Secretary), Comrade Akinrinade Wahab (Treasurer), Comrade Naabulobari Naazigha-Lue (Legal Adviser), Comrade Onyibe Jeremiah (Publicity Secretary) and Comrade Musa Gwani Turare (Internal Auditor). 

The conference was held under the evocative theme: “Human Rights as our Everyday Essentials: Fundamental, Inviolable, Indiscriminate.” 


He (Comrade Debo Adeniran) invoked the history of the CDHR, recalled its pivotal role in forming the Campaign for Democracy (CD) alongside icons like Beko Ransome-Kuti, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, and Gani Fawehinmi, all of blessed memory. Adeniran emphasized on policy of reconciliation and stated, "Where a member commits an offence but shows genuine remorse, such a member should be reabsorbed without undue bureaucratic bottlenecks." 


He noted that internal friction had previously hindered the founder’s dream of having a CDHR unit on every street in Nigeria, a goal he intends to revive.


The Conference also acknowledges the valuable contribution of Chief Mrs. Ajose, the Chairperson of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ota Branch, who actively participated in the deliberations and offered insightful legal perspectives on issues bordering on constitutionalism, rule of law, and the protection of fundamental human rights. Her intervention enriched the discussions and reinforced the importance of collaboration between the legal profession and civil society organizations in the defence of democratic values. 


Also represented at the conference, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Ota Division, CSP Idehai Godwin highlighted the role of the Nigeria Police Force in maintaining public order while respecting citizens' fundamental rights. He stressed the need for sustained collaboration between the Police and civil society organizations. 


The conference after the ratification of the branch elections for Lagos and Delta States, formally inaugurated several other new branches and presented them with their official CDHR certificates. 


Following the dissolution of the outgone executives, an electoral committee led by Comrade Aihakwo conducted the polls at the AGC. The outcome of the election presents newly elected national leaders and they are: President: Debo Adeniran (Lagos), Vice President: Godwin Anyebe (Benue), General Secretary: Deji Adebowale (Lagos), Assistant Secretary: Imrana Yahaya (Bauchi), Treasurer: Akinrinade Wahab (Osun), Legal Adviser: Naabulobari Naazigha-Lue (Rivers), Publicity Secretary: Onyibe Jeremiah (Ebonyi), Internal Auditor: Musa Gwani Turare (Katsina). 


In his closing remarks, President Debo Adeniran urged the newly elected NEC members to remain servants of their branches, rather than masters, be steadfast and committed to ideals of CDHR, while equally "generate programs, relate well with your officers, and let the struggle continue," he concluded.


The event was attended by a broad spectrum of the human rights community, including Barrister A.T. Lawal, who noted in his goodwill message that true leadership must extend "from the house to the streets and up to the federal level.”




Signed 


 *Debo Adeniran* 

National President, CDHR


 *Comrade Deji Adebowale* 

National General Secretary, CDHR  


 *Comrade Onyibe Jeremiah* 

National Publicity Secretary, CDHR