Liberia-As efforts to remove Speaker J. Fonati Koffa intensified, a session in the main chambers of the House of Representatives under the gavel of Speaker Koffa was adjourned due to a lack of quorum.
This unexpected situation has sparked debates and discussions among political experts and analysts as “rebel lawmakers” remain resolute in pushing for the removal of the Grand Kru County lawmaker.
The session, presided over by Speaker Fonati Koffa and Deputy Speaker Thomas Fallah, saw only 30 out of 73 lawmakers present, with the remaining 43 absent.
The attendance was confirmed by Chief Clerk Mildred Siryon, who conducted the roll call. Faced with the lack of quorum, Speaker Koffa immediately took action by instructing the sergeant-at-arms to locate the absent lawmakers and bring them to the session.
To everyone’s surprise, the Sergeant-at-arms reported that none of the absent lawmakers were in the building. This development led to Speaker Koffa’s announcement that punitive measures would be taken against members of the Secretariat who were not present in the chamber.
He then entertained a motion from Representative Musa Bility, who suggested adjourning the session until the next plenary sitting and holding legal consultations to compel absentee lawmakers to attend future sessions.
Consequently, the session was adjourned by the Koffa bloc due to the lack of quorum. However, a group claiming to be the majority bloc held a separate deliberation in the joint chambers. What is even more surprising is that some members of the House Secretariat were seen participating in this alternate session, while the Chief Clerk and Deputy Chief Clerk remained with the Koffa bloc in the main chambers.
The joint chambers saw a total of 43 lawmakers present, making it clear that the majority bloc was not willing to budge. In fact, they have reportedly insisted that Deputy Speaker Thomas Fallah join their session within 48 hours.
As of now, the situation remains unresolved, with the majority bloc planning to return to the main chamber. While this situation has caused quite a stir, Senate activities continue unaffected as this issue does not involve them directly.
However, it has raised concerns about the stability of the House of Representatives and how this could potentially affect future sessions and deliberations.
The lack of quorum in this session has highlighted the importance of attendance and responsibility among lawmakers. It also emphasizes the need for more efficient systems to ensure that all lawmakers are present and accounted for during sessions.
Moreover, the actions taken by Speaker Koffa and the Koffa bloc shows a strong stance against absenteeism and prioritize the importance of fulfilling duties as a lawmaker.
On the other hand, the actions of the majority bloc and participation of some members of the House Secretariat in the joint chambers raise questions about unity and loyalty within the House. This situation serves as a reminder of the crucial role the House of Representatives plays in the governance of the country.
It also highlights the ongoing debates and discussions about the stability and integrity of the House. As the situation remains unresolved, all eyes will be on the House of Representatives in the coming days to see how this issue will be resolved and what actions will be taken to ensure the smooth functioning of future sessions.
