–Speaker Koon says, following his induction as House Speaker
By Jerromie S. Walters
Newly inducted House Speaker Richard N. Koon has defended the legitimacy of his initial election, despite ultimately submitting to a fresh vote. The Montserrado County District #11 Representative made the assertion during a special statement following his formal induction on Tuesday, May 13, 2025.
Koon secured the speakership of the House of Representatives in the 55th National Legislature after defeating Nimba County District #7 Representative Musa Hassan Bility in an assertive vote. The election, held in the House’s main chambers, saw Koon claim victory with 43 votes against Bility’s 26, out of 69 total ballots cast.
In his address, Speaker Koon expressed gratitude to his colleagues while reaffirming the validity of the previous process. “What we did in the Joint Chambers was political and legal,” he stated.
He swiftly moved to establish key legislative committees, appointing Representative Sekou Kanneh as Chair of the Committee on Executive, with Representative Emmanuel Dahn as Co-Chair. Other critical committees included Foreign Affairs, Ways, Means and Finance, Rules, Order, Public Accounts and Expenditure, Gender, Peace and Reconciliation, Investment and Concession, Health, Natural Carbon, and National Security.
A Tumultuous Path to Leadership
Koon’s ascension follows the resignation of former Speaker Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa, ending months of bitter dispute within the House of Representatives. The leadership crisis erupted on October 17, 2024, when lawmakers initiated efforts to oust Koffa over several allegations. The conflict intensified on November 21, 2024, when Koon was controversially elected as Speaker—a move opponents decried as fraudulent.
The initial election polarized the legislature, with factions sharply divided between Koon’s supporters and Koffa’s loyalists. While Koon’s allies maintained that his selection reflected majority will, Koffa’s camp argued the process was legally flawed.
Supreme Court Intervention and Executive Response
In early December 2024, the Supreme Court of Liberia ruled that actions taken by the self-styled “Majority Bloc” during the standoff were “ultra vires” (beyond legal authority) if they contravened Articles 33 and 49 of the Constitution. However, the Executive Branch and Liberian Senate endorsed the bloc’s actions on December 10, 2024, further complicating the crisis.
Koffa sought judicial recourse through a petition for a bill of information, but it was denied and later visisted after amendments. Tensions escalated when Majority Bloc lawmakers, accompanied by Liberia National Police (LNP) officers, attempted to forcibly remove Koffa’s belongings from the Speaker’s office—an operation later postponed but eventually executed. The bloc also suspended 16 lawmakers aligned with Koffa.
Landmark Supreme Court Ruling
On April 23, 2025, the Supreme Court delivered a pivotal verdict, declaring all Majority Bloc actions unconstitutional unless presided over by the elected Speaker—unless formally absent or incapacitated. Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyene Young emphasized strict constitutional adherence, stating: *“Any action or sitting of the majority bloc in which the elected Speaker is not presiding—despite being present and not absent or incapacitated—is unconstitutional. The majority bloc is hereby mandated to operate in the interpretation of the Constitution as stated by the Supreme Court.”
President Joseph Nyuma Boakai responded by affirming his administration’s commitment to governance, declaring, “We will not be held hostage.”He pledged adherence to the Court’s quorum definition, stating, “We will work with the quorum that ensures the full functioning of our government.” The Executive and Senate had consistently engaged the Majority Bloc since the crisis began.
Despite the ruling, Koffa failed to secure the required 36 lawmakers (including himself) to conduct business under Article 33, which mandates a simple majority for legislative proceedings. The constitutional deadlock ultimately hindered his return to power.
President Boakai revealed consultations with traditional leaders to resolve the impasse but warned against obstructionism: “We are a country governed by laws, not by mobs or self-serving ambition.” He linked recent unrest to political maneuvering, vowing, *“Those who undermine peace will face the full force of the law,” while ordering tightened security around government facilities.
Koffa’s Resignation and Legacy
Koffa formally resigned on May 11, 2025, confirming his decision at a May 12 press conference in Sinkor’s Murex Plaza. He remained ambiguous about his future as a lawmaker but disclosed plans to author a book titled “1-73: Conspiracy in the House of Representatives.”
The Rule of Law Caucus, a bloc of Representatives loyal to Koffa, endorsed his resignation, lamenting the “continuous defiance of the Rule of Law by the Executive.” In a statement, the caucus cited the “alarming constitutional dilemma” and the dwindling number of members willing to sit under Koffa’s leadership.
“It is our pleasing duty to have served alongside Speaker Koffa and under his gavel,” the caucus noted, welcoming him back to the floor as a member. True to their word, Cllr. Koffa joined his colleagues in the chamber on Tuesday for the election of his successor—marking the end of a historic political saga.
