Yinka Odumakin
Nigerian human rights activist
About Yinka Odumakin
Lived 1966 – 2021 (aged 54). Yinka Odumakin was a Nigerian human rights defender, politician and human rights.
Yinka Odumakin (10 December 1966 – 3 April 2021) was a Nigerian human rights activist and politician. Until his death, he was the national publicity secretary of Afenifere, a Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group.
Career Odumakin played a key role in the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) that fought the government of Sani Abacha after the annulment of the 1993 Nigerian presidential election. He was among the spokespersons of the Southern and Middle Belt Leader's Forum (SMBLF). He was the spokesman of Muhammadu Buhari when he contested the 2011 Nigerian presidential election under the defunct Congress for Progressive Change. In 2014, during the government of Goodluck Jonathan, Odumakin and his wife were the only married couple among the 492-member 2014 National Conference which was held in Abuja, Nigeria. He was also a known critic of Muhammadu Buhari's government.
Personal life Odumakin hailed from Moro, Ife North, Osun State, Nigeria. During the government of Sani Abacha, he met his wife Joe Okei-Odumakin at a detention facility in Alagbon, after she was transferred from Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria, due to her involvement in pro-democracy campaigns. They married on 4 November 1997.
Death Odumakin died from respiratory issues due to complications resulting from COVID-19 at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital on 3 April 2021.
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Important facts
Family & relationships
People in Yinka Odumakin's life
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Yinka Odumakin?
Nigerian human rights activist (1966-2021)
When was Yinka Odumakin born?
Yinka Odumakin was born on 10 December 1966 in Ife North.
When did Yinka Odumakin die?
Yinka Odumakin died on 3 April 2021 in Lagos State University Teaching Hospital.
What was Yinka Odumakin's occupation?
Yinka Odumakin was a human rights defender, politician and human rights.
What nationality was Yinka Odumakin?
Yinka Odumakin was Nigerian.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Yinka Odumakin. https://biography.guide/yinka-odumakin/
MLA: "Yinka Odumakin." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/yinka-odumakin/.
Chicago: "Yinka Odumakin." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/yinka-odumakin/.
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