CAPITOL HILL, MONROVIA – Montserrado County’s District #3 Representative, Sumo K. Mulbah, on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, officially announced his decision to leave the Minority Bloc and join the Majority in the House of Representatives, citing national interest and the need for legislative functionality.
Rep. Mulbah, who had stood with the Minority Bloc for nearly six months amid a drawn-out leadership dispute at the 55th Legislature, said his decision is in response to mounting pressure from constituents and a desire to move beyond political impasse.
“The people of Electoral District #3, Montserrado County, elected me to represent them on October 10, 2023, with a mandate to engage in lawmaking, oversight, and representation,” Mulbah declared in a formal statement. “We have been executing these responsibilities very well. However, our work came to a standstill last year due to a leadership crisis that stalled normal activities at the House.”
That crisis centered around the speakership of Hon. J. Fonati Koffa, whose authority was challenged by a bloc of lawmakers until the Supreme Court ruled in his favor on April 23, 2025, affirming his legitimacy based on Articles 33 and 49 of the Constitution. Despite the ruling, Rep. Mulbah acknowledged that Koffa had “lost the confidence of most of his colleagues,” thus hindering the formation of a working quorum necessary for legislative decisions.
“While I respect the Supreme Court’s ruling and support the rule of law, we cannot allow our country to be held hostage by a minority bloc,” Mulbah stated. “I am officially joining the side of the quorum to support the process of reconciliation and unity in the House.”
Mulbah also addressed public criticism and speculation that he and others were financially influenced to support Speaker Koffa, rejecting those claims as baseless and affirming his integrity throughout the legal and political standoff.
“We endured too much pressure; some accused us of receiving cash from Hon. Koffa. Yet, we were never deterred from standing for the rule of law,” he emphasized.
With his defection, Mulbah becomes the fifth member to break ranks with the Minority Bloc, potentially tipping the balance further in favor of the Majority. He underscored that the move was motivated not by personal gain but by the broader interests of his constituents and the country.
“We cannot keep fighting while our roads, hospitals, and other basic social services are significantly challenged. I don’t need a cent to make this decision,” he said. He also announced he is waiving all benefits owed to him by the House in support of the national fight against drugs.
In a call for healing and unity, Rep. Mulbah appealed to President Joseph Boakai to lift the suspensions of all lawmakers and pave the way for an election within the House as a gesture of reconciliation.
“Mr. President, I urge you to unite the group by lifting the suspensions on all lawmakers and calling for an election. This embodies the essence of true democracy in any law-abiding nation,” he concluded.
