Despite the Supreme Court ruling that actions not aligned with the Constitution are ultra vires, the Majority Bloc, backed by some members of the Senate and the Executive, continues to pressure Speaker Koffa to resign.
Monrovia – As the 55th Legislature prepares to commence its second session on January 13, the self-styled Majority Bloc has intensified efforts to force Speaker Jonathan Fonati Koffa out of office. The bloc, which has declared Representative Richard Nagbe Koon as their Speaker, is demanding that Speaker Koffa vacate his Capitol Building office to make way for their preferred leader.
By Gerald C. Koinyeneh, [email protected]
FrontPage Africa has obtained text message exchanges between Representative Kolleh, the Majority Bloc’s self-declared Chairman on Rules, Order, and Administration, and Speaker Koffa. In the messages, Rep. Kolleh ordered the Speaker to remove his belongings from the office to avoid “future embarrassment.”
Text Message Exchange
Kolleh: “Good morning Hon. Koffa. Merry Christmas to you and the family. Hope this SMS meets you in good health.
Please be reminded once again that you haven’t turned over the key of the Speaker’s office. Said key was expected a week before you filed before the Supreme Court. You haven’t since the ruling of said court. We wrote you a week ago asking for the key; again, you haven’t turned it over.
Please comply with the decision of plenary ASAP to afford future embarrassment. We have to prepare the office at the comfort of Hon. Richard N. Koon, Speaker of the 55th Legislature.”
Koffa: “The Supreme Court has made no ruling on my illegal removal, Sir. Merry Christmas.”
Leadership Crisis Deepens
Despite the Supreme Court ruling that actions not aligned with the Constitution are ultra vires, the Majority Bloc, backed by some members of the Senate and the Executive, continues to pressure Speaker Koffa to resign. The bloc argues that their declaration of Rep. Koon as Speaker represents the will of the plenary.
In the messages, Rep. James Kolleh (District #7, Bong County) ordered the Speaker to remove his belongings from the office to avoid “future embarrassment.”
The Majority Bloc has taken several drastic steps to cement its authority, including ordering the Central Bank of Liberia and commercial banks to remove Speaker Koffa’s signature and that of his leadership from official records; declaring the Speaker’s post vacant during a session presided over by Deputy Speaker Thomas P. Fallah, electing Rep. Koon as their Speaker, suspending seven pro-Koffa lawmakers. Speaker Koffa has resisted these actions, maintaining that they are unconstitutional.
A Crisis Months in the Making
The leadership tussle erupted in October 2024 when the Majority Bloc began holding sessions in the joint chambers of the Capitol Building, abandoning the main chamber in a bid to weaken Speaker Koffa’s legitimacy. They accused of corruption and conflicting of interest, claims he rejected. The situation escalated further when the joint chamber was engulfed in flames, deepening divisions in the House of Representatives.
Implications for the President’s Annual Message
The ongoing crisis threatens to overshadow President Joseph Boakai’s upcoming State of the Nation Address, scheduled for the fourth working Monday in January.
The ongoing crisis threatens to overshadow President Joseph Boakai’s upcoming State of the Nation Address, scheduled for the fourth working Monday in January.
The Constitution mandates that the Speaker of the House preside over the joint session of the Legislature during this address. With two factions claiming legitimacy, concerns are mounting over potential disruptions during this key national event.
As the second session of the 55th Legislature approaches, all eyes will be on the Capitol Building to see if a resolution to the standoff can be reached or if the crisis will further destabilize the operations of Liberia’s Legislature.
