ASABA/Nigeria: A major political crisis is brewing in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State following allegations of abuse of office, intimidation, police harassment and the alleged disregard of a subsisting court order, raising fresh concerns over the independence of the local government’s legislative arm and respect for the rule of law.
At the centre of the controversy is the Leader of the Oshimili North Legislative Arm, Hon. Jeffrey Mordi, whose leadership has been embroiled in a prolonged political battle following the impeachment of the former Leader of the House and his Deputy by members of the legislative council.
Documents obtained by our correspondent, alongside accounts from sources familiar with the dispute, indicate that the crisis began after councillors removed the former leadership of the House over allegations of misconduct and subsequently elected Hon. Mordi as the new Leader.
The impeachment reportedly altered the balance of power within the council and triggered a protracted confrontation between the executive and legislative arms of the local government.
According to sources, the impeached officials were regarded as close political allies of the Executive Chairman of Oshimili North Local Government Council, Hon. Innocent Esewezie. Their removal, they alleged, marked the beginning of an intense struggle between the chairman and the newly constituted leadership of the legislative arm.
The sources claimed that soon after the leadership change, members of the legislature, particularly Hon. Mordi, became the target of sustained intimidation allegedly aimed at reversing the decisions of the House and restoring the previous leadership.
They further alleged that Hon. Mordi was subsequently suspended from the legislative arm and that his salaries, allowances and other statutory entitlements were withheld. According to the sources, the House Leader has remained without his official remuneration for more than six months.
The political impasse reportedly took another dramatic turn when, following the impeachment of the former leadership, the roof of the legislative chamber was allegedly removed on the directive of the council chairman, rendering the chamber unfit for legislative activities.
With the legislative chamber no longer usable, councillors were said to have resorted to holding their sittings under a tree within the council premises in order to continue discharging their constitutional responsibilities.
It was during this period, according to the sources, that Hon. Mordi took custody of the legislative mace—the official symbol of the authority of the House. They explained that the decision was taken solely to safeguard the mace from possible theft, damage or misuse after the legislative chamber became exposed following the removal of its roof.
The sources maintained that Hon. Mordi’s possession of the mace was neither an act of defiance nor an attempt to appropriate government property but a measure to preserve the symbol of legislative authority until normal legislative activities resumed.
They, however, alleged that his continued custody of the mace further strained relations with the executive chairman, who reportedly viewed the development as a challenge to his authority.
The sources also alleged that efforts were made to weaken the legislative leadership through political inducements. According to them, several councillors were allegedly provided with vehicles and other financial incentives to align with the executive, but Hon. Mordi declined every offer made to him.
His refusal, they claimed, intensified the political confrontation, with increasing pressure mounted on him to relinquish his position as Leader of the House.
In another twist, the sources disclosed that Hon. Mordi petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), alleging that the Oshimili North Local Government’s 2025 Appropriation Budget was implemented without the approval of the legislative arm as required by law.
They stated that the petition is currently before the anti-corruption agency.
The political disagreement, according to the sources, later assumed a more disturbing dimension with allegations that security operatives and political thugs became involved in efforts to intimidate members of the legislature.
Fearing for his safety and possible unlawful arrest, Hon. Mordi approached the High Court of Justice, Delta State, sitting in Akukwu-Igbo, seeking judicial protection against what he described as persistent harassment, intimidation and threats to his liberty.
Court documents in Suit No. AKU/M/1/2026, obtained by our correspondent, show that the court granted an interim order restraining the respondents—including the Executive Chairman of Oshimili North Local Government Council, Hon. Innocent Esewezie; Inspector Nkem (IPO); the Officer-in-Charge of the General Investigation Department; CSP Raymond Ndomeke; the Deputy Commissioner of Police; the Commissioner of Police; the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 5; and the Inspector-General of Police—from arresting, detaining, harassing or intimidating Hon. Mordi pending the determination of the substantive suit.
The court also directed all parties to maintain the status quo until the matter is heard and determined.
Despite the subsisting court order, sources alleged that Hon. Mordi has been arrested on at least three occasions since the commencement of the dispute.
They further claimed that during some of the arrests, he was allegedly assaulted by police officers, adding that photographs and other documentary evidence showing injuries allegedly sustained by the House Leader are available.
According to the sources, the repeated arrests despite the court’s restraining order have heightened fears over his safety and raised serious questions about compliance with judicial directives by law enforcement agencies.
As of the time of filing this report, information available to our correspondent indicated that Hon. Jeffrey Mordi had again been arrested by operatives of the Delta State Command of the Nigeria Police Force, notwithstanding the subsisting interim order restraining the respondents and security agencies from arresting, detaining, harassing or intimidating him pending the determination of the suit.
The latest development has further escalated tensions within the Oshimili North Local Government Council and intensified concerns over the enforcement of court orders, the separation of powers at the local government level, and the growing political instability in the council.
Efforts to obtain the reaction of the Executive Chairman of Oshimili North Local Government Council, Hon. Innocent Esewezie, as well as the Delta State Police Command, were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report. Their responses will be published as soon as they are received.
