Former House Speaker and stalwart of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa, has downplayed the significance of the party’s physical headquarters, asserting that the CDC’s true strength lies in the hearts and minds of its supporters.
“CDC is not the building. It is the hearts and minds of the masses. Good luck with your building,” Koffa wrote in a Facebook post, following a court-ordered eviction of the party from its national headquarters.
Koffa’s remarks came in the wake of a ruling by Judge George Smith of the Civil Law Court ‘A’, which ordered the immediate eviction of the CDC from a 4.23-acre property in Monrovia. The property, previously used as the party’s headquarters, was ruled to be legally owned by the Bernard family estate.
Although the court upheld the validity of a sale and purchase agreement between the CDC and the estate’s administrators, Judge Smith clarified that the agreement did not confer ownership rights to the CDC. A motion filed by the party’s legal team seeking to compel the estate to sell the land was denied, with the court citing insufficient legal grounds.
Following the ruling, officers of the Liberia National Police, including members of the Police Support Unit (PSU), were seen forcibly entering the premises. The action was met with resistance from individuals believed to be CDC loyalists and partisans, resulting in a brief altercation. Police reportedly used teargas and minimal force to disperse the crowd.
In response to the incident, Koffa urged CDC supporters to remain focused on the party’s ideals rather than its physical infrastructure. “Partisans should carry the party in their hearts and minds and not be distracted by the loss of a structure,” he emphasized.
The eviction marks a significant moment for the CDC, which has long used the property as a symbol of its political presence. However, party leaders like Koffa are calling for unity and resilience in the face of the legal setback.
