Monrovia – The Press Union of Liberia (PUL) has expressed grave concern over the ongoing leadership crisis within the House of Representatives, describing it as a blatant display of both majority tyranny and minority tyranny.
According to the PUL in a statement issued through its President Julius Kanubah on Tuesday, the inability of the two factions to reconcile their differences, even after a decisive Supreme Court ruling, underscores a troubling disregard for the rule of law and the principles of governance.
In a strongly-worded statement, the PUL criticized the actions of the “majority bloc,” led by Representative Richard Koon, and the “minority bloc,” under the leadership of Speaker J. Fonati Koffa. The Union noted that despite constitutional provisions requiring a two-thirds majority to remove the Speaker following due process, the majority bloc acted through irregular means to appoint Koon as Speaker—an action that the Supreme Court has declared as “ultra vires.”
Supreme Court Ruling
The Supreme Court, in a 34-page opinion dated December 6, 2024, clarified the constitutional thresholds and procedures required for the removal of a Speaker. The ruling specifically interpreted Articles 33 and 49 of the Constitution in response to a petition filed by Speaker Koffa and other representatives. The Court found the actions of the majority bloc, including holding extra-plenary sessions in the Joint Chambers, unconstitutional.
Furthermore, the Court emphasized that the removal of Speaker Koffa lacked the requisite hearing and judgment consistent with due process. This situation echoed the unconstitutional removal of former Speaker Edwin Snowe in 2007, the Court noted. However, the Court acknowledged the absence of an enabling mechanism to compel dissenting or absentee members to attend sessions under a presiding Deputy Speaker.
PUL’s Position
PUL President Julius Kanubah emphasized that the existence of two Speakers and two parallel sittings within the House is constitutionally unacceptable. He stressed that the Supreme Court’s ruling highlighted the illegitimacy of the majority bloc’s actions, which failed to align with the House’s Standing Rules and the Constitution.
Kanubah also acknowledged Speaker Koffa’s apparent loss of instrumental legitimacy due to his inability to command the confidence of the majority bloc. However, he argued that the majority bloc’s actions lacked juridical legitimacy, further exacerbating the crisis.
Continuing Concerns
Despite the Supreme Court ruling, the majority bloc has proceeded with hearings on the 2025 Draft Fiscal Budget, with members of the Executive branch participating under the protection of armed police officers. The PUL described this development as deeply troubling, citing it as a regression to the use of force in governance.
“After two decades of hard work to remove Liberia from the politics of tyranny through the show and use of force, it is extremely disturbing that members of the majority bloc and agents of the Executive branch would conspire to hold a budget hearing under armed police officers,” Kanubah lamented.
Call for Political Resolution
The PUL has called for a political solution to the leadership crisis, referencing the six-count recommendation of the ECOWAS Parliamentary Delegation. Among other suggestions, the delegation recommended that Speaker Koffa temporarily recuse himself while an investigation into allegations of corruption and conflict of interest against him is conducted.
“Until a political settlement is found, the ongoing crisis risks undermining public interest while advancing the narrow interests of both factions seeking to control decision-making in the House and the fiscal purse,” Kanubah warned. “There is one truth we must dread: democracy backslides and dies in tyranny—whether it is majority tyranny or the tyranny of the minority.”
The PUL reiterated its call for adherence to constitutional principles and genuine political dialogue to resolve the impasse.
