The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) has placed its former Delta State chairman, Comrade (Elder) A.P. Edariese, on a six-month suspension following allegations of misconduct and electoral malpractice during the group’s recent convention.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the organisation explained that the decision stemmed from incidents that took place on July 15, 2025, during the CDHR’s biennial branch convention held in Udu Local Government Area, Delta State.
The statement, signed by Acting General Secretary Comrade Ejike Nwokoro, accused Edariese of attempting to manipulate the electoral process, describing his actions as unconstitutional and detrimental to the organisation’s democratic values.
“Based on the events of July 15, 2025, at the CDHR Delta State Annual Branch Convention, the National Executive Council (NEC) has imposed a six-month suspension on Comrade (Elder) A.P. Edariese for conduct that violated the organisation’s constitution,” the statement read.
In response to the disruption, CDHR announced the formation of a caretaker committee to manage the Delta branch until new elections are conducted. The committee comprises 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 a member.
According to the organisation, the election was meant to usher in a new state executive, but the process was aborted after Edariese allegedly attempted to exclude some delegates to secure the emergence of his chosen candidates.
The group stated: “In line with resolution 8 of the emergency NEC meeting held virtually on July 25, 2025, you have been suspended from the CDHR for six months.
“This disciplinary action follows your role in the failure of the Delta State Branch Convention and Election, which took place on July 15, 2025. Your actions, in collaboration with others, obstructed the formation of the Electoral Committee and disrupted the electoral process.
“Your suspension is effective from July 25, 2025. You are hereby directed to hand over all CDHR property in your possession to the Caretaker Committee Chairman within seven days of receiving this notice and to immediately cease using the name or affiliating with the organisation in any capacity.
“You are expected to comply with these directives without delay.”
In a prompt reaction, Comrade Edariese dismissed the suspension, describing it as a sham designed to mislead the public. He insisted that the move had no legal backing and would be rendered void by the CDHR’s constitution.
He stated, “This so-called suspension letter is a fabrication aimed at misleading unsuspecting members of the public. It is an illegal action from an illegal group, and it will soon be discarded by the authority of our constitution to the shame of its authors.”
He further alleged that the letter was secretly forwarded to him in a bid to distract him, but maintained that it lacked substance.
Speaking further, Edariese questioned the legitimacy of the disciplinary action: “They should specify the offence I supposedly committed, the investigative panel that reviewed it, and which part of the CDHR Constitution I allegedly violated.
“Is conducting elections to select new branch executives as prescribed by the constitution now an offence? Let them show the laws I allegedly broke.”
Meanwhile, Chronicles Reporters had earlier reported the chaotic disruption of the CDHR Delta State election by suspected thugs.
According to eyewitness accounts, including one from Comrade Derrick Oritsematosan Agberen, a CDHR member in Delta State, the thugs targeted key national officers of the group, including Barrister Henry Ekine, the National Legal Adviser, and Idris Afeez, the Publicity Secretary.
Agberen alleged that the thugs were brought in by Edariese, who was accused of attempting to impose his son as the next state chairman — a move many members strongly opposed.
He recounted: “The election was disrupted around 7:30 pm. Comrade Edariese was trying to fraudulently install his son as the State Chairman, but the members resisted.”
Agberen also claimed that Edariese created fake units within the organisation in a bid to manipulate the election process, leaving out over five genuine units.
“He established fake units to stage the election because the majority of the real units were not in support of his actions,” he said.
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