The Rule of Law Caucus noted that Koffa’s resignation was necessary to end the stalemate and reestablish order.
Monrovia – Embattled Speaker of the House of Representatives, J. Fonati Koffa, will officially step down from his role at 12 noon today, following months of political turmoil and a widening constitutional crisis in Liberia’s 55th National Legislature.
By Selma Lomax [email protected]
The announcement was confirmed in a statement issued Sunday by the Rule of Law Caucus, a legislative faction that had previously supported Koffa.
The group, led by Representative Musa Hassan Bility, cited persistent defiance of Supreme Court rulings by the Executive Branch, a shrinking base of legislative support for Koffa, and the urgent need to restore constitutional order through a new Speaker election under Article 49 of the Liberian Constitution.
“The continuous defiance of the Rule of Law by the Executive despite one Supreme Court ruling and its reaffirmation shows that we are confronted by a much more alarming constitutional dilemma than the Office of the Speaker,” the statement read.
Koffa’s resignation follows weeks of speculation he had previously dismissed as unfounded. In late April, he strongly denied any plans to vacate the Speakership, calling the reports politically driven.
His position was legally affirmed by the Supreme Court, which ruled that all sessions and decisions taken by the self-proclaimed “Majority Bloc” in his absence were unconstitutional.
In her ruling, Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyene G. Yuoh emphasized that no session of the House could proceed without the presence or incapacitation of the duly elected Speaker. The court’s decision came in response to a Bill of Information filed by Koffa, who challenged the legitimacy of parallel sessions led by rival lawmakers.
Despite the legal win, Koffa acknowledged the need for compromise in a national address posted to his official Facebook page. “I am not unmindful that reconciliation and progress may require that I make the ultimate sacrifice—and I am not unwilling to pay that price,” he said, pledging to work with Deputy Speaker Thomas Fallah and Representative Richard Koon to form a transitional committee aimed at healing divisions within the Legislature.
The legislative impasse began in January 2025, shortly after the inauguration of President Joseph Boakai, and quickly escalated into competing factions, walkouts, and stalled lawmaking.
A bloc of lawmakers, reportedly aligned with the Executive, challenged Koffa’s leadership and held unauthorized sessions, further deepening the crisis.
The Rule of Law Caucus noted that Koffa’s resignation was necessary to end the stalemate and reestablish order. “The loss of a significant number of members willing to sit under the Speaker’s gavel makes his effectiveness less tenable for the incoming floor fight,” the group said.
Koffa is expected to formally address his colleagues today. Following his departure, the House will begin the process of electing a new Speaker—a development expected to shift the legislative balance of power and potentially strengthen the Boakai administration’s influence over the Legislature.
In his farewell, Koffa is likely to commend his colleagues who defended the rule of law and thank Liberians at home and abroad for their support during the months-long crisis.
