By Festus Poquie
The coalition of dissenting lawmakers in the House of Representatives appears to be unraveling, as members attempt to regroup and pursue a fresh resolution to unseat Speaker J. Fonati Koffa—days after the Supreme Court ruled their previous actions, including parallel sittings and the Speaker’s removal, to be unconstitutional.
Roughly 30 members of the faction, which had previously flouted the Supreme Court’s decision, reconvened at the Capitol on Monday, announcing they had gathered 47 signatures in support of Koffa’s removal.
Their latest maneuver signals a reluctant acceptance of the Court’s authority and an attempt to rectify their earlier constitutional missteps.
Sources familiar with the ongoing standoff say President Joseph Boakai has lent quiet support to the rebellious group, personally calling lawmakers to urge them to endorse the resolution. Simultaneously, he has reportedly enlisted religious leaders to pressure Speaker Koffa to step aside.
Despite the Supreme Court ruling six days ago, critics argue that President Boakai’s administration has yet to fully comply, with Speaker Koffa’s official security detail and other privileges still withheld.
In the meantime, the contested position holder, Richard Koon, continues to enjoy state support and resources, emboldening the dissident bloc as it strives to recover from recent legal setbacks.
Speaker Koffa has publicly expressed an openness to resign, yet insiders claim that elements inside the ruling establishment remain determined to force his ouster—allegedly funneling significant resources into swaying undecided lawmakers.
Both camps are now locked in a numbers game. The Speaker needs a working quorum of at least 37 of the 73 members of the House. According to sources speaking on condition of anonymity, Koffa currently commands the loyalty of 32 members, leaving him five short of regaining full control.
Meanwhile, the so-called “majority bloc” faces its own difficulties. To lawfully remove the Speaker, a two-thirds majority—49 lawmakers—is required, yet the group’s actual strength remains questionable.
At Monday’s press conference, only 31 lawmakers were physically counted, while bloc leaders insisted their total presence was 37, leading to widespread confusion.
Inconsistent roll calls further compounded the uncertainty, with the Clerk of the House reporting absentee numbers that fluctuated between 10 and 14. Despite the discrepancies, the bloc later claimed to control 49 votes.
Observers quickly disputed their arithmetic: even adding in newly elected members Thomas Romeo Quioh and Emmanuel Dahn, the bloc’s plausible count only rises to 45, assuming their original tally of 43 was correct.
The bloc’s efforts also suffered further setbacks as Representatives Bernard Benson and Austin Taylor defected, effectively negating any gains from defections by Minority members to their side.
Questions were also raised over the status of Reps. Taa Wongbe and Moima Briggs Mensah, whom the bloc lists among its ranks despite their public withdrawal from Majority Bloc activities. Taa said he will maintain his silence for now.
On Monday, Majority members released a statement acknowledging the Supreme Court’s ruling—noting that a motion for re-argument has been filed for “clarity, correctness, and adherence to constitutional dictates.”
They reiterated their claim that Speaker Koffa has lost the confidence of most of his colleagues, arguing that this undermines his legitimacy and effectiveness.
They further assured the public that when the House reconvenes, the constitutionally stipulated quorum under Article 33 will be met, allowing legislative business to proceed unhindered.
Reaffirming their commitment to the separation of powers, the statement invoked the Political Question Doctrine: “Matters involving the internal organization and governance of a co-equal branch are non-justiciable, and decisions regarding House leadership are exclusive to the Legislature.”
Despite these pronouncements, doubts persist regarding the bloc’s cohesion and actual numerical strength, with Monday’s events exposing cracks in what is supposed to be a united front.
While lauding recent achievements by the Executive in security, economics, and diplomacy, the statement concluded with a pledge of support for furthering Liberia’s progress. However, as both sides jostle for the critical numbers needed to control the House, instability and political intrigue continue to hang over the Capitol.
