Monrovia, Liberia – Amid the current political upheaval on Capitol Hill, House Speaker Fonati Koffa is facing increasing opposition, suffering another political setback due to his inability to secure a quorum.
On Tuesday, October 22, the Legislative Sitting was stalled due to a lack of quorum, demonstrating significant political momentum in efforts to remove Koffa from his leadership position.
Speaker Koffa managed to garner the support of only 30 of his colleagues—falling short of the required simple majority needed to conduct official business.
The Anti-Koffa Bloc, led by Nimba County Representative Samuel Kogar, commands the allegiance of 43 representatives, just six members short of the number needed to activate their strongly worded resolution.
The resolution, which DN News has obtained, accuses Koffa of conflict of interest, unilateral selection of Liberian representatives to the ECOWAS Parliament, and budgetary overspending while serving as Deputy Speaker, among other allegations.
These lawmakers, united in their effort to unseat the Speaker, gathered in the joint chambers of the Legislature, signaling their clear intent to challenge Koffa’s leadership.
The situation has placed the Speaker in a precarious position, as the majority bloc continues to push for his removal.
The group has also issued a direct warning to Deputy Speaker Thomas Fallah, urging him to join their bloc or risk losing his position.
They have called on Fallah to make a decision by tomorrow, further escalating the tension within the House of Representatives.
Fallah is viewed as the “Iscariot” in the entire saga. His unexpected attempt to convene a sitting amidst the fracas between the opposing sides on Thursday has led many to believe he might be the mastermind behind the plot to remove the embattled Koffa.
On the other hand, Speaker Koffa has announced that punitive actions would be taken against members of the Secretariat who were absent from the chamber.
With the current situation, Koffa, as a “drowning Speaker,” is looking for any lifeline he can grasp. DN News has learned that Koffa has held separate meetings with Vice President Jeremiah Koung, and Senate Protem Nyonblee Karngar Lawrence seeking their intervention. The outcome of the meeting remains unknown.
