Breaking News: Speaker J. Fonati Koffa Poised to Resign: Proposal Submitted to Former President Sirleaf

Monrovia, Liberia: In what appears to be a significant shift in the leadership impasse at the House of Representatives amidst the Supreme Court on Wednesday, 23, 2025, Speaker J. Fonati Koffa and his minority bloc of representatives have reached a final decision to step down from the speakership of the 55th Legislature.

The decision marks a major turning point in the current political crisis and is said to have been made in the spirit of upholding the rule of law and ensuring stability in the House of Representatives.

Sources within the Legislature have confirmed to K-NEWS that Speaker Koffa formally submitted the proposal attached to his resignation letter to former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

According to our source, former President Sirleaf, a highly respected stateswoman with no political ambitions and current engagements with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), was selected to receive the documents as a neutral and senior national figure.

Speaker Koffa’s resignation proposal outlines that he will receive all accumulated salaries and benefits due to him during his time in office.

In a parallel development, it was also agreed that minority bloc lawmakers who were suspended by the majority bloc have begun receiving their salaries beginning May 1, 2025.

Madam Sirleaf is expected to forward Speaker Koffa's resignation letter to the Chief Clerk of the House before the Lower House resumes regular legislative business upon its return on Tuesday, May 13, 2025.

The Chief Clerk, Madam Mildred Sayon, is then expected to formally place Speaker Koffa’s resignation letter on the House’s agenda during the resumption session.

Once the resignation is acknowledged, a vacancy will officially be declared in the Office of the Speaker, and in accordance with the House’s Standing Rules and Orders, Deputy Speaker Thomas P. Fallah will temporarily lead the body and facilitate an election for a new Speaker within a 60-day period.

This development is expected to impact the legislative landscape and may signal a new direction in the ongoing quest for political harmony and institutional integrity within the House of Representatives of Liberia’s 55^th Legislature.

Speaker Koffa, in a closely fought election for the leadership of the 55th National Legislature, emerged victorious, defeating his contender Richard from the Unity Party.

The then election, marked by strong competition, witnessed Koffa, a lawyer and deputy speaker of the 54th National Legislature, securing the coveted position after being projected by the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC).

Koffa’s victory did not only signify a shift in leadership within the legislature but also reflected the dynamics of Liberia’s political landscape.

The contest saw Koffa, known for his legal expertise and previous role as Deputy Speaker, pitted against a contender from the incoming ruling party, the Unity Party.

One of the factors that contributed to Koffa’s success was his widespread popular appeal, stemming from his ability to forge relationships and his compelling platform for the speakership.

Throughout the campaign, Koffa committed to vital reforms, with a focus on restructuring legislative committees and moving away from partisan interests in appointments.

“Koffa cuts across,” said one lawmaker from the Unity Partisan. “He’s a CDCian, but we don’t see him this way. We see him as a progressive who is willing to compromise and work with everyone to get the job done.” 

The Liberian legislature has long grappled with issues of corruption and inefficiency, much of which has been attributed to the quality of its legislative committees.

Koffa made known his commitment to tackling this challenge head-on by appointing committee members based on expertise rather than purely partisan considerations. This approach aims to enhance the effectiveness and transparency of legislative processes.

During the campaign for speakership, Koffa also outlined plans to digitize the voting systems within the legislature. Currently lacking a website to inform citizens about lawmakers’ activities and voting history, the Liberian legislature was poised to undergo a technological transformation under Koffa’s leadership.

Background of the Dispute

The political impasse began in late 2024, when the so-called Majority Bloc, led by Rep. Koon, launched an initiative to remove Speaker Koffa, citing a loss of confidence in his leadership. The effort quickly drew legal scrutiny after the Bloc began holding parallel sessions without meeting the quorum or procedural requirements outlined in the Liberian Constitution.

In December 2024, the Supreme Court issued an initial ruling declaring those actions unconstitutional. Despite that decision, the Bloc continued to operate outside constitutional bounds, prompting Speaker Koffa’s legal team to file a bill of information earlier this year, seeking enforcement of the court’s ruling.

March 26 Hearing: Court’s Clear Warning

During a March 26, 2025, hearing on the Bill of Information, Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyene Gyapay Yuoh sharply criticized the Majority Bloc for ignoring the Court’s ruling, warning of the dangerous precedent their actions could set.

“Where he, Speaker Koffa, is still sitting, and you open a parallel session, it can create chaos,” Yuoh cautioned, emphasizing the constitutional crisis such actions could provoke.

Associate Justices Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay and Yussif D. Kaba questioned the legal legitimacy of the Bloc’s continued defiance, while Justice Jamesetta Howard Wolokollie warned that undermining constitutional provisions could destabilize the country’s democratic foundation.

Final Ruling: Actions Null and Void

In the Wednesday, 23, 2025 ruling, the Supreme Court declared all legislative actions taken by the Majority Bloc in the absence of Speaker Koffa null and void. The Court reaffirmed that the Speaker’s removal must strictly adhere to Article 33 of the Constitution, which requires the Speaker’s presence and a legitimate quorum to convene any House session.

Chief Justice Yuoh reiterated the primacy of constitutional order, stating, “There are rules to follow. Failure to do so erodes the very foundation of our democratic institutions.”