Hon. Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa officially resigned from his position as Speaker

By Sulaiman Jalloh

After months of political tension in Liberia’s House of Representatives, Hon. Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa officially resigned from his position as speaker on Monday, May 12, 2025, his resignation came amid mounting internal pressure, despite a recent supreme court ruling that upheld his legitimacy as speaker.

In a statement following his resignation, Koffa dismissed widespread rumours that he was bribed to step down, he insisted the decision was made independently to avoid further chaos in the legislature and potential violence, I cannot negotiate with the law. if I resign, a vacancy is created, that is what the constitution and house rules require, he told journalists Monday morning.

In his resignation letter addressed to the Chief Clerk of the house, Hon. Mildred Sayon, Koffa confirmed that deputy speaker Thomas Fallah will act in his place until a new speaker is elected, please convey to the members my warmest regards and deepest gratitude for having elected me to serve the Liberian people in this capacity, the letter read.

His resignation follows weeks of heightened tension on capitol hill, including the deployment of armed security forces and growing divisions among lawmakers. Koffa said the deteriorating situation forced him to choose between continuing a political standoff or stepping aside to maintain peace, our choice was either to go back to the capitol and risk another outbreak of violence or prevent that, I chose the latter, he explained.

Koffa also addressed speculation that he accepted money in exchange for stepping down, calling the allegations false and politically motivated, however, he acknowledged that he had negotiated for the payment of overdue salaries and benefits for his allies in the legislature, yes, I discussed my intention to resign with them, and my condition was that the salaries and benefits of my colleagues be paid, he said.

The house of representatives, through its director of press and public affairs Robert Benjamin haynes, confirmed receipt of the resignation and announced that a new speaker election will take place on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at 10:00 am, in keeping with its constitutional mandate and in the best interest of the republic of Liberia, the house will convene to conduct a fresh election, all interested members are encouraged to declare their intentions in what will be an open, fair, and transparent process,” the statement read.

Koffa’s resignation comes after a long legal and political dispute over the speakership, which climaxed in a supreme court ruling declaring any attempt to remove him while the matter was in court as illegal, despite that legal victory, Koffa admitted the situation shifted dramatically after President Joseph Boakai publicly announced his support for the majority bloc, effectively weakening Koffa’s position.

Copy right –Printed in the Expo Times News on Friday, May 14th, 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)