The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has once again placed the leadership of the party in Enugu State in the hands of Steve Oruruo, marking what party leaders described as a renewed moment of strength, resolve and triumph for the opposition party in the state.
Oruruo was formally re-inaugurated as Chairman of the Enugu State Caretaker Committee on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, in a ceremony where the National Secretary of the PDP administered the oath of allegiance and oath of office to members of the caretaker committees.
The event also featured the inauguration of the Imo State Caretaker Committee, chaired by Ikenga Jonjude Okere, reinforcing the party’s rebuilding drive across the South-East.
Speaking at the ceremony, the PDP South-East Zonal Chairman, Chief Ali Odefa, charged the newly inaugurated committees to brace for what he described as a “herculean task,” especially in states where key political office holders have defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“You have been called to serve. The job you have now is a very hard job,” Odefa said. “In your state everybody has gone to the opposition. In Enugu for instance, the Governor, Commissioners, LG chairmen, Senators, House of Reps—they have all gone to the APC. It is their right to go wherever they want to go to.”
Odefa warned that the PDP could no longer expect support from those in positions of power but insisted that resilience, organisation and faith would see the party through.
“So you know you have a herculean task, not expecting support from people in positions of power and authority. So it calls for you to work very hard,” he said. “Organise your states. If you organise your states, invite us, we will come there. We will come and talk to your people and your supporters. Nothing will happen. Heaven will not fall.”
He lamented what he described as internal sabotage within the party but vowed that the PDP leadership would resist attempts to destroy the platform.
“Unfortunately, we have some people in our party who are hell-bent on destroying the party—a party that made them who they are—so that they can continue to get crumbs from the tables of their masters in Abuja. But we will not allow that. We have been resisting them all the way,” Odefa declared.
Acknowledging the imbalance of state power and resources, the zonal chairman said the PDP’s ultimate strength lies beyond material advantage.
“With the state apparatus and everything they are using against us, we don’t have any of those things, but we have God. And since we have God, we are the majority,” he said. “When they come against us with too much money, too much positions and too much everything, we will come against them with prayers and supplications to God. Eventually, they will bow.”
Turning to the 2027 elections, Odefa framed the coming contest as a moral and social battle rather than a mere party rivalry.
“The presidential election especially for 2027 is not just an ordinary contest. It is a contest between good and bad, a contest between hunger and survival. It will not be PDP versus APC. It will be Nigerians versus APC,” he said.
He painted a grim picture of economic hardship, citing skyrocketing costs of living.
“Someone brought an invoice of shopping he did in 2014 for about ₦25,000. He took the same invoice to the market today and it was over ₦500,000. That is about a 2,000 per cent increase,” Odefa said. “People are hungry. In some places, people are picking from dustbins.”
Despite the challenges, he assured that the PDP would not relent. “We will not give up. This party will not give up. We will continue to do our part so that posterity will judge us fairly. On this note, you have a whole lot of work to do,” he concluded.
Responding on behalf of the Enugu State Caretaker Committee, Steve Oruruo expressed gratitude for the renewed confidence reposed in him and struck a defiant, hopeful tone about the party’s future in the state.
“Mr Chairman, I would not want to recycle truism,” Oruruo said. “It will be surplus requirement to emphasise what we are going to do for PDP. But I want to take something from your voice again.”
While acknowledging the role of faith, Oruruo insisted that the PDP’s strength also lies firmly with the people.
“It is said that if they have statecraft and the state structure, we have God on our side. But I want to reassure you that we don’t just have God—we have the people as well,” he said. “It is a struggle between qualitative voices and quantitative voices. On their side, they may have qualitative voices, but on our side, we have both the qualitative and quantitative voices. And the people are going to suppress them.”
Oruruo admitted that there is anxiety in Enugu following recent political realignments but said the PDP has a history of resurgence.
“In Enugu, there is palpable fear of what tomorrow may be. Decisions have been taken in high places that may not be in favour of the party that laid the golden eggs,” he said. “But the fear is that PDP will always rejuvenate with a thunderbolt and of course become a tsunami.”
He revealed that groundwork had already begun to re-energise the party’s base. “We’ve already galvanised and called on our people. They are already waiting for us. What we need to do is give them the enabling environment and freedom to express themselves, so that credibility will determine the outcome of elections,” Oruruo stated.
Calling on the national leadership and electoral authorities, he stressed that transparent elections would favour the PDP.
“If elections are left open, we are sure that PDP will scale through,” he said. “The Enugu leadership has the credibility and doggedness to face the opponent. Whatever tricks they come with, we are fortified enough.”
Oruruo also appealed for strategic candidate selection ahead of future elections. “If we offer credible candidates that the people love, it will resonate with the yearning of the ordinary people,” he said. “Give them the right candidate and they will beat everybody for you.”
He concluded with a firm assurance of party unity and resilience in Enugu. “The mood of the party in Enugu is buoyant. My people are resolute, committed, unwavering, indefatigable and unalloyed in their commitment to the PDP,” Oruruo declared.
The ceremony also saw the inauguration of Ikenga Jonjude Okere as Chairman of the Imo State Caretaker Committee, as the PDP intensifies efforts to reposition itself across the South-East ahead of future electoral contests.
