Umuahia — National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Vincent Ogbulafor and other party chieftains were in a happy mood at the weekend as they welcomed back more than 2,000 defectors into the party's big umbrella during a unity rally held at Isuikwuato.

The rally, which was enlivened by the cultural displays of Chief Ikechi Emenike's teeming supporters, was the second in the series planned for the three senatorial zones of Abia as part of efforts to seal the cracks in the state chapter of the party and arouse the sagging spirit of members following the party's failure to control the state.

The returnees included former PDP members who retraced their steps back into the party as well as those from other parties, including the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

In his address, Ogbulafor told the huge gathering of party faithful, that the Government House, Umuahia "has been eluding us" and attributed it to costly "mistakes" that the party had made in the past thereby failing to take political advantage of the political heavy weights in its fold.

He said that the party leadership at the national and state levels was working hard to correct the past mistakes to translate their numerical strength and quality membership to success at the polls during the forthcoming general elections.

"We are all working hard to walk into government house in 2011," he declared, adding that all members of the party were important in the 2011 mission because at the end of the day, the party would use their votes to actualise its quest to take over Abia government house.

Chairman of the occasion, Senator Ike Nwachukwu, insisted that Abia PDP "is united and we're set to liberate Abia from ten years of bondage."

"We must say it loud and with one accord that no other party would take Abia come 2011," he said, urging Abia PDP faithfuls to close ranks and work for the collective interest of the party.

The three members of the House of Representatives from the zone, Nkiru Onyejeocha, Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje and Kalu Igu Uduma, all addressed the rally calling for the PDP to take its rightful place in Abia by producing the next governor of the state.

The final rally for Abia South Senatorial zone is slated for December 18 with Senator Enyinna Abaribe promising that it would be the mother of all rally.