“This Is Not Right”- Rep. Nyan Flomo Warns Lawmakers of Constitutional Breach Over Seat Increment

Capitol Hill, Liberia: As public resistance grows against the Legislature’s plan to increase the number of electoral districts, Nimba County District #2 Representative Nyan Flomo has issued a stern warning that the move could trigger legal action from civil society groups, describing it as a gross violation of the Constitution of Liberia.

Speaking during a press conference, Rep. Flomo cautioned his colleagues that the path being pursued is constitutionally flawed and exposes the House of Representatives to national and legal embarrassment.

“At the end of the day, some civil society groups might pick up this issue and challenge what we are doing here,” Rep. Flomo warned. “Because this is a gross violation. What we are doing here is not right.”

The debate centers on lawmakers’ proposal to increase the number of seats in the House following the 2022 National Population and Housing Census, which recorded Liberia’s population at approximately 5.2 million. Proponents argue that population growth justifies additional representation.

However, Rep. Flomo maintains that Article 80(e) of the 1986 Constitution does not support the current approach, stressing that reapportionment must ensure equal population representation across constituencies, not political balancing between counties.

According to Rep. Flomo, the proposed configuration would result in Nimba, Bong, and Lofa Counties having constituencies of approximately 71,000 to 72,000 people, while Montserrado County would bear constituencies of about 91,000 people—a disparity he says violates the spirit and letter of the Constitution.

“If we say smaller counties are already benefiting and therefore we should give them extra seats, then we are going far beyond what the Constitution requires,” he stressed.

Rep. Flomo emphasized that representation under Liberia’s Constitution is a mathematical and legal exercise, not a political favor.
“This process is not about who gains or loses,” he added. “It is about what the Constitution demands of us as lawmakers.”

The lawmaker warned that failure to adhere strictly to constitutional standards could invite lawsuits and sustained civic opposition, further eroding public trust in the Legislature.

With citizens already protesting the proposed seat increment, Rep. Flomo’s remarks have intensified scrutiny of the House’s intentions and raised fundamental questions about whether lawmakers are acting in national interest or in defiance of the supreme law.

As the debate continues, the warning is clear: any deviation from Article 80(e) may not only provoke public outrage but also land the Legislature in court, setting a precedent with far-reaching democratic consequences.