By Magnus Emuji
The 7th Assembly of Oshimili North Legislative Arm has reportedly impeached its Leader Hon. Chris Nwamgbor and the Deputy Leader, Hon. Augustina Odogwu.
Following the impeachment, the Councillor representing Okpanam DISIEC Ward 12, Hon. Jeffery Sunday Mordi emerged as a new Leader.
*Hon. Jeffery Sunday Mordi
Until his emergence, Mordi was the immediate past Chief Whip.
The impeachment of the former leader, Hon. Chris Nwamgbor and the deputy leader, Hon. Augustina Odogwu followed a motion moved by Hon. Jeffery Mordi having secured 2/3 majority of the Councillors by invoking section 92, subsection 2C of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The mover of the motion outlined the sins of the impeached officers as follows:
*Alleged gross misconduct and lack of transparency, leading to a duly processed vote of impeachment passed by 2/3 majority of the 16-member House.
*Lack of transparency by the ousted leader and his deputy particularly for their consistent pattern of withholding critical information from Assembly members, thereby denying members the ability to fulfill their responsibilities to their constituents, among others.
But in a swift reaction, Nwamgbor, who represents the Atuma-Iga Ward, said the process allegedly used to announce his removal fell short of all known legislative procedures, relevant laws, and the Council’s Standing Orders.
According to him in a press release on Thursday, “the impeachment attempt was a political manoeuvre by a few individuals seeking to disrupt legislative harmony and derail developmental programs for Oshimili North under the leadership of the Executive Chairman, Hon. Innocent Esewezie”.
He insisted that no lawful notice of impeachment was issued, no hearing panel was constituted and no due process was followed as required by the Delta State Local Government Law and the legislature’s internal rules.
“I remain the duly elected and recognized leader of this council’s legislative arm.
“Any attempt to remove me without observing due process”, he went on, “is null, void, and of no effect. We will explore all legal channels to protect the rule of law and the integrity of the legislature”, he added.
*Additional report from Austin Ogwuda
*The impeached Leader, Hon Chris Nwamgbor
