Abakaliki — MEMBERS of the National Working Committee of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, yesterday, accused the national chairman of the party, Chief Victor Umeh, of sidelining them from the decision-making arm of the party.

They alleged that only the national chairman and a few others published a guideline on the conduct of local government and governorship elections for Anambra State, adding that such an action was taken without contribution of majority members of the NWC of the party.

In a statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Bernard Akoma, 18 of the 27 NWC members of the party had already been excluded by the national chairman of the party from attending a meeting scheduled to hold tomorrow, (Saturday, August 3, in Abuja).

The statement read in part: "Meanwhile, the alienation of 18 members of the National Working Committee of the party in any move by Umeh reinforces our persistent allegation of one-man show against him.

"Despite the fact that the Enugu Appeal court ruling has restored all NWC members back to their original position, Umeh has continued to treat us with disdain; instead has carried on to run the affairs of the party as his personal empire.

"Recently, only he and maybe a few of his friends published a guideline on the conduct of local government and governorship elections in Anambra State without the contribution of majority members of the NWC.

"It is our belief that for any major decision to be taken in the party, a quorum must be formed and views of a reasonable number of its members should be accommodated.

"But such quorum cannot be said to have been formed in this case where 18 of 27 members of the NWC of the party are kept away, meaning that they don't deserve to know what happens in the party".

"We want to say that whatever reconciliation between Obi and Umeh which does not address the constitutional provision of the party is considered unacceptable as we are not prepared to foist illegitimacy on the party.

"Umeh, the National Chairman has convened a meeting of the National Executive Committee NEC of the party on Saturday, August, 3 at Abuja. He ensured that nobody out of the 18 members of the National Working Committee, NWC, who opposed Umeh style of leadership was invited for the meeting.

"The NWC is made up of 27 serving members of which 18 are in support of a credible national convention in conformity with Article 18, of the party constitution.

"This group aligned with Obi to persuade Umeh to abide by the party constitution, it is therefore believed that any peace deal between Obi and Umeh will accommodate the feelings of these majority members of the NWC."