CDHR Suspends Immediate Past Delta Chairman, sets up 3-member Caretaker Committee

.....Suspension letter, a ruse to deceive, Edariese react

Following the incident on July 15, 2025, at the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) Delta State Annual Branch Convention held at Victory View Hotel, off DSC Expressway in Udu Local Government Area, the National Executive Council (NEC) imposed a 6 months suspension on the immediate past chairman, Comrade (Elder) A.P. Edariese, citing unconstitutional conduct.

This is contained in a suspension letter signed by CDHR's Acting General Secretary, Comrade Ejike Nwokoro. 

The CDHR concurrently established a caretaker committee comprising of Comrade Charles Oviri, Coordinator Udu Unit 1, as Chairman; Comrade (Engr.) Charles Okuekenye, Coordinator Ika Unit, as Secretary; and Comrade Dennis O. Eru, Coordinator Udu Unit 2, as member.

The CDHR noted that the Annual Branch Convention, which marked the end of the executives' tenure, was to feature an election to usher in new executives but failed after the immediate past chairman attempted to bypass constitutional provisions, first, to disenfranchise delegates of the Branch Coordinating Council in some units from participating in electioneering processes to ensure his anointed candidates succeeded in all elective positions."

According to the CDHR,"The situation led to persons suspected to be thugs masquerading as CDHR members to storm the premises, harassed the 2 National Executive Committee (NEC) members who were delegated to oversee the state election as stipulated by the constitution. 

"The electoral process was disrupted, and members were forced to vacate the venue late at night, awaiting the NEC's decisions as constitutionally mandated. 

"Following the evacuation of the election venue, the immediate past chairman, Comrade A.P Edariese, demonstrated extreme eagerness by convening an unauthorized session at his residence, where he unilaterally declared his preferred candidates for all elective positions.

The suspension, as communicated in a letter signed by Comrade Ejike Nwokoro, National Acting General Secretary of CDHR, and addressed to the immediate past chairman, reads as follows:

“We are writing to communicate to you that, in accordance with resolution 8 of the National Executive Committee (NEC) emergency meeting held virtually on 25 July 2025, you are hereby suspended from the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) for a period of 6 months.

"This decision follows your misconduct during the Delta State Branch Biennial Convention and Election held on 15 July 2025. 

"As reported in the NEC adopted report on the aborted election, your actions, along with others, frustrated the process of constituting the Electoral Committee and disrupted the electoral process. 

"Your suspension takes effect from 25 July 2025, and you are directed to:
1. Handover all CDHR properties in your custody to the Chairman of the Caretaker Committee set up for your branch within one week of receipt of this letter.
2. Desist from using the name of the organization or relating with it in any manner or form.

You are expected to comply with these directives immediately."

In a swift reaction, the immediate past Chairman of the CDHR in Delta State, Comrade(Elder) A.P. Edariese said,'This purported letter of suspension is a ruse made to deceive the uninformed members of the Public to believe what is not true and correct."

According to him,"It is an illegal action coming from an illegal body which will go into the dustbin with it's authors under the Hammer of the authority of the Constitution of our great Organization CDHR to the shame of Satan and the followers of the makers very soon."

He also said,"As you got it, it was also forwarded to me clandestinely by agents of the makers to distract me. It has no basis to achieve that.Thank you for your concerns."

Comrade Edariese further said,"You may ask the authors to state the offence for which I am alleged to be suspended and by what panel of investigations and what provisions of the CDHR Constitution I breached to earn a suspension.

"Find out from the authors whether conducting elections to elect new members of the Branch Executive Committee to pilot the affairs of the Branch in line with the provisions of the CDHR Constitution and offence.

"Ask them to show you which Laws I breached to earn suspension."