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From Jude Chinedu, Enugu
Enugu State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Steve Oruruo, has dismissed reports of parallel congresses in the state as ‘nonsensical,’ even as he intensified efforts to boost the party’s membership base through a fresh grassroots mobilisation drive.
Speaking during a strategy and training session of personnel for the e-registration exercise, attended by 260 ward representatives, local government coordinators and other party stakeholders, the chairman said the focus of the exercise was to translate the PDP’s dominance in the state into verifiable membership strength.
He stressed that political claims must be backed by numbers, noting that the ongoing registration drive was critical to the party’s survival and relevance.
He explained that the training was aimed at equipping grassroots operatives with the capacity to reach more people, especially in rural communities where awareness remains low.
“Because of the rigorous processes, because of the very stringent means of registration, we need to educate people so that the rural people can be captured. They are not that media-savvy.
“So, those who are in the vanguard of doing that should do that expeditiously. The only way it can happen is that, at my level as the leadership, I should be able to project a means through which the ordinary people can be reached easily. After this training, you have less than one week to complete and submit your register,” he said.
Against the backdrop of the membership drive, the chairman took a swipe at those claiming to have conducted PDP congresses in the state, describing such gatherings as lacking legal basis.
“You know, friends and well-wishers can gather for jamborees; these are possibilities in life. We have freedom of association. But, if you are talking about PDP, it is the most nonsensical thing I have ever seen in my life because you can’t put something on nothing and expect it to stand.”
He maintained that court rulings had already settled the leadership question in the state, insisting that individuals behind the alleged congresses had no authority to act on behalf of the party.
On concerns that the internal crisis could lead to the de-registration of the PDP, the chairman dismissed such fears, noting that the ongoing membership drive was part of efforts to meet regulatory requirements.
He added that although reconciliation efforts were ongoing, the party would not hesitate to pursue legal remedies up to the Supreme Court if necessary.
