A major political crisis is unfolding in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State, with allegations of intimidation, abuse of office, police harassment and disregard for a subsisting court order threatening the independence of the council’s legislative arm.
The crisis centres on the Leader of the Oshimili North Legislative Arm, Hon. Jeffrey Mordi, who, according to sources and court documents obtained by our correspondent, has been at the centre of an intense political battle since councillors impeached the former Leader of the House and his Deputy.
Sources said the impeachment, carried out by members of the legislative arm over alleged misconduct, altered the leadership structure of the House and led to the emergence of Hon. Jeffrey Mordi as the new Leader.
According to the sources, the impeached officers were considered close allies of the Executive Chairman of Oshimili North Local Government Council, Hon. Innocent Esewezie, and their removal allegedly marked the beginning of a prolonged confrontation between the executive and legislative arms of the council.
The sources alleged that shortly after the change in leadership, the chairman began what they described as a sustained campaign of intimidation and harassment against members of the legislature, particularly Hon. Mordi, with the aim of reversing the decisions of the House and weakening the new leadership.
They further claimed that the chairman later orchestrated the suspension of Hon. Mordi from the legislative arm and allegedly directed that all his official salaries, allowances and other entitlements be stopped. According to the sources, the House Leader has remained without his statutory entitlements for more than six months.
The political standoff reportedly deepened when, following the impeachment of the former leadership, the roof of the legislative chamber was allegedly removed on the directive of the council chairman, making the chamber unusable for legislative business.
Unable to gain access to their chamber, members of the legislative arm were said to have continued their sittings under a tree within the council premises in order to sustain legislative activities.
It was during this period, the sources explained, that Hon. Jeffrey Mordi took custody of the legislative mace—the official symbol of the authority of the House—not for personal reasons but to safeguard it from possible damage, loss or unauthorised use, since the legislative chamber had become exposed and insecure following the removal of its roof.
Rather than resolving the impasse, the sources alleged that Hon. Mordi’s continued custody of the mace further strained relations with the executive chairman, who viewed the development as a direct challenge to his authority.
The sources also alleged that while several councillors were persuaded to align with the executive through the provision of vehicles and other financial inducements, Hon. Mordi refused to accept any form of inducement.
According to them, his refusal allegedly heightened the face-off, with repeated pressure mounted on him to abandon the position of the legislative leadership.
They further disclosed that Hon. Mordi petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), alleging that the 2025 budget of the local government was implemented without the approval of the legislative arm as required by law. According to the sources, the petition is currently before the anti-graft agency.
The crisis, they said, subsequently escalated beyond politics, with allegations that thugs and security operatives became involved in attempts to intimidate members of the legislature.
Fearing for his safety and personal liberty, Hon. Jeffrey Mordi approached the High Court of Justice, Delta State, sitting in Akukwu-Igbo, seeking protection against what he described as persistent threats, intimidation and unlawful arrest.
Court documents in Suit No. AKU/M/1/2026 show that the court granted an interim order restraining the respondents, including 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 ordered all parties to maintain the status quo pending the hearing of the matter.
However, sources alleged that the court order has been repeatedly ignored. They claimed that Hon. Mordi has been arrested on about three different occasions since the dispute began and was allegedly assaulted by police officers during the arrests. According to the sources, documentary evidence, including photographs showing injuries allegedly sustained by the House Leader, is available.
The sources further alleged that the continued involvement of security agencies despite the court’s restraining order has heightened fears for Hon. Mordi’s safety, describing the situation as life-threatening.
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, despite the subsisting interim order restraining the respondents and security agencies from arresting, detaining, harassing or intimidating him pending the determination of the suit.
The reported arrest has further heightened concerns over the enforcement of court orders and the growing political crisis within the Oshimili North Local Government Council