Court Affirms Oruruo As Legitimate PDP Chairman In Enugu

The leadership impasse within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State received a decisive legal resolution on Thursday, with a court reaffirming Barr. Steve Oruruo as the authentic State Chairman, settling months of political wrangling that have attracted national attention.

Addressing journalists in Enugu on Friday, Oruruo dismissed the controversial motion passed at the recent Ibadan PDP National Convention, which attempted to dissolve the Enugu State Executive Committee.

According to him, the convention’s actions directly contravened a binding court judgment and the explicit provisions of the PDP Constitution.

Oruruo highlighted a subsisting Enugu State High Court ruling (Suit No. E/1267/2025) that expressly recognized him as the substantive State Chairman and Hon. Martins Onyeanwa Ugwuamadi-Eze as Secretary of the party.

The judgment relied on Sections 45(2–4) and 47(6) of the PDP Constitution, which stipulate that the deputy chairman automatically assumes office in the event of a chairman’s resignation or removal.

“The motion to dissolve the Enugu PDP Executive Committee was not only misguided but fundamentally illegal,” Oruruo said, describing the Ibadan Convention’s act as “void ab initio.”

He noted that the officials purportedly dissolved were fully accredited to vote at the convention, underscoring the contradiction between the convention’s decision and both judicial and constitutional mandates.

The Federal High Court had also issued an order compelling the PDP National Executive Committee (NEC) to recognize Oruruo’s leadership and restraining the party from appointing any other person as chairman or secretary.

The order included directives for the former office holders to hand over party records and property, a compliance that Oruruo said has been fully observed.

Reiterating his authority, Oruruo declared: “I am both the de facto and de jure State Chairman of Enugu PDP. No fairytale can distort this fact.”

He further dismissed claims by a self-appointed “state committee” purporting to exercise leadership in the state, describing it as “a gathering of questionable elements” operating against the PDP’s constitutional framework and entrenched values.

Oruruo warned that any attempt by individuals to assume leadership outside the court-recognized structure would constitute contempt of court, with serious legal consequences.

He urged party members to remain vigilant and loyal to the judicially affirmed leadership, emphasizing that such adherence is crucial not only for stability in Enugu State but also for safeguarding the integrity of the PDP nationwide.

The Enugu PDP crisis mirrors similar disputes in other states, highlighting the tension between national party leadership interventions and state-level constitutional processes.

Political analysts have noted that the resolution in Enugu could set a precedent for resolving intra-party conflicts in other states, reinforcing the role of courts in upholding party constitutions and due process.

Oruruo’s statement serves as a clear signal to both state and national stakeholders that leadership within the PDP cannot be arbitrarily reconfigured and that the rule of law must guide internal party processes.

As the party navigates its internal challenges, the Enugu judgment underscores the judiciary’s critical role in ensuring constitutional adherence, political stability, and organizational integrity.