The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights has been thrown into a leadership crisis following the emergence of two rival factions laying claim to the control of the rights organisation after parallel Annual General Conferences held in Ogun State.
The dispute arose from two separate conferences conducted at different venues and dates, each producing its own National Executive Committee and president.
An AGC held on January 31, 2026, at the Nigerian Labour Congress hall in Abeokuta produced Mr Olayinka Folarin as president. Another conference, held earlier on January 24, 2026, at Maridom Palace Hotel in Ota, re-elected Mr Debo Adeniran for a second two-year term.
Folarin and Adeniran were previously members of the same National Executive Committee, with Adeniran serving as president and Folarin as vice president before the crisis.
At the Abeokuta conference, members elected into the Folarin-led NEC include Ali Attahiru from the Kaduna State branch as vice president, Idris Olayinka from the Kwara State branch as general secretary, Ejike Nwokoro of the FCT Abuja branch as assistant general secretary, Helen Oluwatoyin Akomolafe of the Ekiti State branch as national treasurer, Henry Peter Ekine from the Rivers State branch as national legal adviser, Akinwumi Nurudeen of the Lagos State branch as national publicity secretary, and John Osaigbovo from the Delta State branch as national internal auditor.
The conference also adopted and ratified a recommendation of the National Council removing Adeniran from the Board of Trustees of the organisation, with a directive that the Corporate Affairs Commission be formally notified of the decision.
Speaking on the development, Folarin insisted that the Abeokuta conference was the only constitutional and valid AGC of the organisation. He described the Ota conference as a parallel gathering that failed to meet constitutional requirements.
“We are validly elected. We were eight executives, eight NEC members. Can one be greater than eight?” Folarin said.
He added that his faction had resumed duties at the CDHR national secretariat in Lagos and paid a courtesy visit to the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Mr Femi Falana, SAN.
“We have been to the secretariat today. We have resumed. We are just coming from the office of the Chairman of the BoT, Mr Femi Falana. I took over the office this morning and I have all my executives with me,” he said.
According to Folarin, the legitimacy of his NEC was further strengthened by the recognition of the Board of Trustees. He argued that the organisation’s constitution empowers the NEC to determine the venue of the AGC, a provision he said Adeniran violated.
“The conference we held is constitutional and valid. The one held by Debo does not follow constitutional requirements. The constitution clearly states that it is the NEC that determines the venue of the conference. What he did was against the provisions of our constitution and also against the Board of Trustees,” he said.
Folarin dismissed allegations that he impersonated Adeniran to convene the Abeokuta conference, insisting that the constitution allows the vice president to preside in the absence of the president.
He accused Adeniran of deliberately avoiding a valid AGC to escape disciplinary action over alleged misconduct.
“He was being undemocratic in his views. He knew that a legitimate AGC would discipline him for acts of misconduct, including obstructing the course of justice and acting contrary to the stance of the organisation on some issues,” Folarin said.
He further alleged that Adeniran convened what he described as a “kangaroo” conference with unrecognised branches.
“We do not harbour corruption, and he has been queried for that. Knowing he would not get the mandate of legitimate branches, he brought together some branches that are not recognised by the NEC and claimed victory,” he added.
However, Adeniran rejected all claims by the Folarin-led group, describing them as dissidents and insisting that the Ota conference produced the legitimate leadership of the organisation.
Members of the Adeniran-led executive include Godwin Anyebe as vice president, Deji Adebowale as general secretary, Imrana Yahaya as assistant secretary, Akinrinade Wahab as treasurer, Naabulobari Naazigha-Lue as legal adviser, Onyibe Jeremiah as publicity secretary, and Musa Turare as internal auditor.
Adeniran disclosed that the National Council at the Ota conference passed a motion dissolving the Board of Trustees and subsequently elected a new five-member board comprising Olasupo Ojo, Debo Adeniran, Prof Lucky Akarueze, Gbenga Awosode, and Femi Falana, SAN.
He accused Folarin of impersonation and described the Abeokuta conference as null and void due to lack of presidential authorisation.
“I was re-elected last week. My AGC, which is authentic, was held on January 24. I have completed my first two-year tenure and commenced another two years,” Adeniran said.
“Our constitution allows only the president to convene and preside over the AGC. I was not there and I did not delegate my authority to anyone. Without that authority, what they did is null and void,” he added.
Adeniran further accused Folarin of desperation, alleging that the Abeokuta conference was organised through the back door.
“They wanted a shortcut. I issued a disclaimer within the organisation. They gathered people from outside the organisation to attend their convention. They used my name to convene the conference, which is impersonation and forgery,” he said.
