A serious leadership crisis has engulfed the Oshimili North Local Government Legislative Arm in Delta State following the impeachment of the Leader and Deputy Leader of the House, a development that has sparked sharp disagreements among councillors and raised questions about due process, governance, and accountability.
The crisis pits Hon. Chris Nwamgbor, councillor representing Atuma-Iga Ward and former Leader of the House, against Hon. Jeffrey Mordi, councillor representing Okpanam Ward, who has now emerged as the new Leader of the legislative arm.
Nwamgbor Declares Impeachment “Null and Void”
Hon. Chris Nwamgbor has rejected his removal, insisting that he remains the duly elected Leader of the Oshimili North Legislative Arm.
According to him, the impeachment process was illegal and unconstitutional, claiming that it violated the Delta State Local Government Law and the House Standing Orders. He alleged that no lawful notice of impeachment was served on him, no hearing panel was set up, and the Clerk of the House was not properly involved.
“I remain the duly elected and recognised leader of this council’s legislative arm,” Nwamgbor said, describing the impeachment as a political manoeuvre aimed at destabilising the legislature and undermining the administration of the Executive Chairman, Hon. Innocent Esewezie.
He further claimed that key stakeholders and some councillors still support his leadership and vowed to explore legal options to challenge the impeachment.
Impeachment Documents Sighted
However, checks by this reporter revealed that copies of the House Resolution approving the impeachment of Hon. Chris Nwamgbor (Leader) and Hon. Augustina Odogwu (Deputy Leader) of the 7th Assembly were sighted.
Also sighted was a copy of the impeachment letter signed by the Clerk of the House, Mr Agboje Benedict, which was attached as part of the official legislative records of the sitting.
Why Hon. Mordi Was Engaged
To uncover the full facts behind the controversy, this reporter sought the reaction of Hon. Jeffrey Mordi, who has been accused by Nwamgbor of orchestrating an unlawful impeachment.
In a detailed response, Mordi rejected all the allegations and gave a step-by-step account of events, insisting that the impeachment was lawful, transparent, and supported by the majority of councillors.
“The House Was Run Like an Autocracy” — Mordi
According to Hon. Mordi, the impeachment was not sudden but the result of long-standing grievances against the former Leader.
“Honourable Chris Nwamgbor was the Leader of the Oshimili North Legislative Arm. He was too hard on us. An autocratic government was running. Information was kept away from us,” Mordi said.
He alleged that Nwamgbor repeatedly embezzled benefits belonging to councillors, particularly impress funds.
“He always embezzled some benefits belonging to the council. We complained severally, and even the local government chairman, Hon. Innocent Esewezie, settled us more than three times,” he stated.
Mordi alleged that at one point, the councillors’ impress money was handed to Nwamgbor, who allegedly spent it and denied doing so.
“There was a time our impress money was given to him and he ate it. He denied it to the extent of swearing with his son that if he ever ate the money, let his son die,” Mordi said.
December Impress Crisis
Mordi explained that councillors later decided to stop accusing the former Leader, but the crisis resurfaced when their December expenses were not paid.
“Our impressive money that was supposed to be paid in December 2024 was not paid. In January, we said that since the Chairman did not pay us in December, it means the money was still owed. But Hon. Nwamgbor said we should forget about it because the year had ended and start a new leaf. We said no,” he said.
After arguments, councillors began collecting signatures to impeach the Leader. According to Mordi, their House of Assembly leader, Hon. Frank Esenwah, intervened and invited them to his house.
“He apologised to us and asked the Leader to apologise and get the money for us. He apologised and later sent the money, saying he used it for something. We forgave him,” Mordi added.
Breakdown in Communication With Chairman
Mordi also accused the Executive Chairman of cutting off councillors from governance.
“A WhatsApp message I sent to the Chairman on our swearing-in day in July last year was only replied to three days ago—after the impeachment,” he said.
He claimed councillors could call the Chairman repeatedly without response and that visits to the Chairman’s house were often ignored.
“I have stayed at his house for four hours. I called him more than 100 times, and he did not pick up or return the calls,” Mordi alleged.
He said the Chairman relied solely on the former Leader for information, leaving councillors in the dark.
The Majority Backed the Impeachment
Mordi stressed that the impeachment reflected the will of the House.
“We are 20 councillors. Sixteen signed that the Leader and Deputy Leader should be removed,” he said.
He added that the House also plans to remove the Majority Leader, noting that the matter has been referred to the party for replacement.
What Happened on Impeachment Day
According to Mordi, the House was duly constituted with the mace present.
“Hon. Nwamgbor presided that day and raised a motion to ban knockouts. When I stood up, he thought I wanted to contribute, but I moved the motion for impeachment, which was seconded by Hon. Ekene Okonkwo,” he said.
Mordi alleged that Nwamgbor refused to step down, attempted to seize the mace, locked the council gates, and called thugs to the premises.
“He approached the mace and guarded it. He took the mace stand. He went further to call Atuma and Akwukwu boys and locked the council gate so nobody could go out,” he alleged.
After the impeachment, Hon. Okonkwo, the Deputy Majority Leader, nominated Hon. Jeffrey Mordi as Leader, and Hon. Zeal Ugbode seconded the motion.
“I was sworn in by the Clerk of the House. There was an impeachment, a nomination, and a swearing-in that same day. I presided and adjourned,” Mordi said.
He denied forcing the Clerk to swear him in.
“I cannot force the Clerk. He is not a baby. The Clerk did the needful. The sitting was held in our chamber, not in a hotel, and the mace was present,” he stated.
Mordi denied external political influence but accused the Executive Chairman of being at the centre of the crisis.
“Our monthly allocation is ₦500 million. The wage bill is not up to ₦200 million. What is he doing with ₦300 million every month?” he asked.
He alleged attempts to bribe councillors with ₦2 million each to reverse the impeachment.
“The chairman cannot impose a leader on councillors. The constitution says councillors elect their leader, not the chairman,” Mordi said.
Mordi insisted the impeachment letter passed through the Clerk.
“If you watch the video, you will see the Clerk reading the impeachment letter while Hon. Nwamgbor was distracting him,” he said.
He also argued that the law does not require prior notice to the Leader before impeachment.
“There is no provision in the law that says the Leader must be informed before impeachment. That provision applies only to the Executive Chairman,” he explained.
Assuring residents of Oshimili North, Mordi said the legislative arm must not be run by one individual.
“All councillors came to represent their constituents. We cannot represent our people in the dark,” he said.
He promised to constitute a committee to investigate the allegations and appealed for calm.
“Oshimili North people should remain calm. We are committed to making the local government a better place for all,” Mordi concluded.
As of the time of filing this report, the crisis remains unresolved, with both Hon. Nwamgbor and Hon. Mordi maintaining their positions, while residents and stakeholders await further developments.
Some of the documents seen by the reporter
