Abia State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has tendered an open apology to Abians for not meeting up with their expectations over the years.

The party said this contributed to its defeat in the last gubernatorial election in the state.

Addressing journalists at the PDP secretariat on Thursday in Umuahia shortly after the party’s stakeholders’ meeting, the Vice Chairman of the party, cum Acting Publicity Secretary, Abraham Amah, said the party had learnt from the enormous mistakes made, stating its readiness to rewrite the wrongs.

He said the party was committed to doing things differently this time, stressing that the lessons learnt from the mistakes would be used to chart a new course, while expressing happiness that the party across the 17 Local Government Areas of the state was still intact.

Amah, however, expressed optimism that the Abia PDP would bounce back again, especially with the line up of political heavy weights that would be joining the party in the coming days.

Asked also to speak on the recent defection that rocked the party, the acting PDP Spokesman said it’s imperative for a tree to shed its dried leaves so as to give way for fresh ones.

The former political Adviser to Abia governor said over the years the PDP family became so big and because of lack of pudding, the party suffered so much in the last election.

“It is customary for an Iroko tree to shed its leaves during the dry season. That doesn’t mean the end of the tree, but to create an avenue for the tree to grow new leaves.

“In the past few months, our party has witnessed some shedding. It’s a necessary change which we are managing.

“Nature abhors vacuum. People left the party, but in the coming days more political heavyweights will be joining the party to replace the ones that left.

“Once you vacate your seat, another will definitely take over. PDP remains strong, we are not deterred. We remain the party to beat come 2027”, Amah said.

Earlier during the stakeholder’s meeting, the immediate past Governor of the State, Okezie Ikpeazu vowed that the era of imposition was over in the party, adding that the party would now allow the members to choose its leaders.

Meanwhile, the Abia State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Asiforo Okere, urged the members of the party to remain resolute and continue with their support for the party.

DAILY POST gathered that the stakeholders’ meeting is the first after its defeat at the 2023 polls.