Liberia-At long last, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Thomas P. Fallah has crossed over to the self-style Majority Bloc of seeking the removal of Speaker J. Fonati Koffa.
Deputy Speaker Fallah on Thursday yielded to the call of the ‘majority bloc’ to join them in their parallel sessions or risk being removed as Speaker. On Thursday, the Deputy Speaker presided over the session held by the breakaway group.
Fallah said his decision to join ranks with the “majority bloc” in the House-a coalition that has voiced grievances against Speaker Koffa, accusing him of breaching ethical standards and misappropriating funds-was not a rejection of his loyalty to the CDC or Speaker Koffa. He said that he was compelled by duty to ensure that the House functions smoothly.
“My decision to join the call for resolving this deadlock is not a repudiation of my support for Speaker Koffa or the CDC. Instead, it is a demonstration of my unwavering commitment to our democracy, which must transcend any one individual or faction,” Fallah explained, adding that he had consulted widely before making this choice. “In my 19 years with the CDC, I have never betrayed my party, and I do not intend to do so now.”
Fallah clarified that he did not initiate the campaign to remove Speaker Koffa, but felt obligated to listen to the concerns of his colleagues, citing his responsibility under the Rules and Procedures of the House and the Liberian Constitution. “It is not a choice against my party or the Speaker, whom I continue to respect and support. I cannot ignore my responsibility to act when the legislative body is at a standstill, and the functioning of the national government is at risk,” he asserted.
Despite Deputy Fallah’s clarification CDC Acting Chairman Kowo accused the Boakai administration of undermining the democratic process by manipulating the legislative body, warning that these developments reflect a dangerous trend in Liberian politics.
“These developments speak to the wider threat to Liberian democracy where an overbearing executive can interfere with the function of the other two branches, thereby undermining checks and balances,” he noted. Kowo went further to assert, “The evidence is clear that the UP government is undemocratic and has gone against every facet of the rule of law.”
Acting Chairman Kowo indicated that the CDC is monitoring the situation closely and will consider its next steps in response to what he described as interference by the executive branch.
Meanwhile, Speaker Koffa has resisted calls for his resignation, insisting he will only step down if the faction calling for his removal secures a two-thirds majority vote in the House, which requires 49 members. The dissenting group currently has 43 members, now 44 with the addition of the Deputy Speaker, falling short of the threshold required to formally oust him.
In defiance, the breakaway faction has been holding separate sessions in the legislature’s joint chamber, an act Speaker Koffa has condemned as unconstitutional.
The faction pushing for Koffa’s removal has accused him of engaging in dual roles as a legal consultant for both government and private entities while serving as Speaker, along with allegations of misappropriating millions during his tenure as Deputy Speaker. Koffa has categorically denied these charges, dismissing them as baseless and unsubstantiated. He assured that neither he nor his law firm, the International Law Group, has conducted business with government institutions. He also addressed claims of budget overspending, stating that an audit he commissioned would reveal the facts.
In a bid to resolve the dispute, Speaker Koffa has petitioned the Supreme Court to declare the ‘majority bloc’s’ sessions illegal and compel them to participate in regular sessions with the rest of the House members. The Court has responded with a stay order on the faction’s activities and has scheduled a conference for November 4 to address the matter.
Fallah, while advocating for a peaceful resolution, urged his colleagues to prioritize unity and open dialogue to restore cohesion within the House. “This is not a time for division or suspicion but a moment for us to reaffirm our shared commitment to the people of Liberia,” he said, calling for collaboration to uphold the values they are sworn to protect and restore the dignity of the Legislature.
But a member of the ‘majority bloc’ confided in this paper late Thursday that Fallah was part of their camp but was only seeking ways to get certain information from speaker Koffa.
“Some of us here do not even trust Fallah. The same way he is playing game, he can play that same game with us tomorrow. So, we are smart. We are not fools.”
