After an apparently failed negation between the Majority Bloc and Minority Bloc on Wednesday, October 31, 2024, in the ongoing leadership crisis at the House of Representatives to oust Speaker J. Fonati Koffa, the Majority Bloc has ordered Deputy Speaker Thomas Fallah to appear before it today, Thursday, October 31, 2024.
It can be recalled that what could be termed as another deadlock negotiation took place through a meeting held between the Chairman of Anti-Koffa Majority Bloc, Representative Samuel Kogar, and members of the Pro-Koffa camp. The meeting was held in the office of Representative Kogar with Representatives Ellen Attoh Wreh, Luther Collins and Muka Kamara.
Speaking to reporters after their meeting, Representative Kogar said during the meeting his colleague from the Koffa bloc urged them to reconsider their decision to remove the speaker.
“I informed them that the primary demand from the majority bloc is for the Speaker to resign and that we have lost confidence in the speaker,” he said. Representative Kogar said his colleagues then told him that they should gather the support of 49 members to push for the Speaker’s removal.
But in a related development, the Majority Bloc also responded to Deputy Speaker Thomas Fallah’s letter requesting for more time to consult his legal teams over their order to have him preside over their bloc’s sessions.
The Majority Bloc in a letter said they acknowledge receipt of Fallah’s communication dated October 28, 2024, craving the indulgence of their honorable body to allow him some time to consult with his legal team regarding the matter at hand to enable you make an informed decision that will not contravene the Liberian Constitution and other relevant statues.
However, it said, “In view of the aforementioned, the Plenary has decided that you have been accorded due process and hereby request that you to appear before its 6′ Day Sitting Session on Thursday, October 31, 2024 to discharge your Legislative duty in the Joint Chambers,” the letter said.
Now, all eyes are fixed on the Capitol to see whether the Deputy Speaker will succumb to the mandate of his colleagues, as that could be a near win for the Majority Bloc to have Speaker Koffa removed from his position.
By Tonita N. Copson
