Cummings declared that “following the rule of law is not an option” and called on President Boakai to immediately comply with and enforce the High Court’s decision regarding the attempt to unseat House Speaker J. Fonati Koffa.
Monrovia – Former presidential candidate Alexander B. Cummings has issued a stinging rebuke of President Joseph Boakai’s handling of the ongoing leadership crisis in the House of Representatives, warning that failing to uphold the Supreme Court’s ruling threatens Liberia’s democratic foundations.
In a strongly worded statement, Cummings declared that “following the rule of law is not an option” and called on President Boakai to immediately comply with and enforce the High Court’s decision regarding the attempt to unseat House Speaker J. Fonati Koffa.
“The law is clear—37 votes to elect, 49 votes to remove. There is no room for misinterpretation,” Cummings emphasized. “The so-called ‘majority bloc’ does not have the numbers, and therefore, their actions—and the Executive’s support of them—are legally flawed.”
Recently the Supreme Court, in its ruling, delivered by Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyene G. Yuoh, declared the actions of the Majority Bloc unconstitutional, stating that any sitting of the House in which the duly elected Speaker is present but not presiding lacks legitimacy.
Koon, however, dismissed the Court’s ruling as an “atrocious and audacious violation” of the separation of powers doctrine. He insists that Koffa’s removal was carried out legally under Article 49 of the Constitution and House Rule 9(a), supported by a resolution signed by 50 of 73 members, citing allegations of corruption and mismanagement.
President Boakai, in a national address, acknowledged the court’s ruling but say his administration will work with a functional quorum.
Cummings, leader of the opposition Alternative National Congress (ANC), criticized the President and his allies for what he described as an attempt to subvert the rules instead of following due constitutional process. He stressed that if the lawmakers truly intended to remove Speaker Koffa, they should have secured the constitutionally mandated two-thirds majority and acted accordingly.
“It’s not too late for that, if that is still their intention,” Cummings said.
Beyond the legal questions, Cummings acknowledged that Speaker Koffa appears to lack majority political support in the House of Representatives. However, he argued that this political reality should have been addressed through lawful and democratic means—an area where, he said, President Boakai has failed.
“The President’s responsibility was to broker a political solution,” he noted. “Instead, emboldened by the Executive’s posture, the majority bloc has refused dialogue, exacerbating the crisis.”
Cummings warned that Liberia now looks disorganized on the global stage, and that President Boakai’s inaction has created the perception of weak and indecisive leadership.
“The President should have clearly and unequivocally stated that he would comply with the Supreme Court’s ruling. He did not,” Cummings lamented.
Despite the current tensions, Cummings expressed hope that political and legal resolutions are still possible if leaders act swiftly. He urged all parties to separate political grievances from legal obligations, insisting that adhering to the Constitution is non-negotiable.
“There is still an opportunity to resolve this, but not following the rule of law is simply not an option,” he concluded. “Liberia must come first.”
The political standoff continues to unfold at a critical moment for Liberia, with many observers warning that how President Boakai handles this test could define his presidency and Liberia’s democratic credibility for years to come.
