As political tensions mount in Liberia’s House of Representatives, Speaker J. Fonati Koffa finds himself the target of an unlikely coalition of lawmakers, dominated by his fellow partisans from Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC). And with the party wielding a majority in the House, it may be all too easy to conclude that this might well be a case of a party airing its dirty laundry in the street. That is until a web of allegations began to unfold, that funds for the campaign against Koffa may have been funneled from the Executive itself.
Ahead of a critical CDC executive council meeting scheduled for early this week, the stakes are high for CDC lawmakers who, despite being from the same party, have aligned themselves with lawmakers from other parties in a push to remove the Speaker. The CDC executive council, reportedly disapproving of the anti-Koffa campaign, is considering strong repercussions, including suspensions and possible expulsions, for party members involved in the effort — that is, if they continue on their war path against the Speaker. The council is concerned not only about loyalty but about the ramifications of the cross-party alliance to unseat Koffa, especially since most CDC representatives owe their seats to former President George Weah’s influence. With the CDC’s mandate of strict party loyalty, the council’s response may reshape the 54th legislative session, potentially sidelining key CDC players.
However, the CDC executive council’s internal investigation has raised another issue: suspicions that the anti-Koffa push has financial backing from the Executive Branch. This allegation suggests an unprecedented entanglement of the Executive in legislative affairs, with fingers pointing towards officials within the Unity Party-led administration as financiers of the movement. While President Joseph Boakai’s name has not been directly implicated, rumors persist about his administration’s tacit support for the effort to remove Koffa.
A Divisive Facebook Live from Former CDC Representative
Former CDC Representative Acarous Gray, a well-known figure within the CDC, took to Facebook Live on Sunday, November 8, 2024, to speak on the controversy. In his broadcast, Gray made a series of startling assertions. First, he revealed that the CDC executive council is firmly against the move to unseat Koffa and has decided to suspend some of its lawmakers pending investigation. Margibi County Representative Ivar Jones, a vocal member of the anti-Koffa camp, reportedly stated he would accept any suspension and undergo investigation by the council for his role in the effort to remove Koffa.
Gray appealed to his CDC colleagues to abandon the campaign against Koffa and “return home as heroes,” resolving the growing discord within the party. He expressed particular disappointment in Deputy Speaker Thomas Fallah, a former Koffa ally, for joining the majority bloc against the Speaker, calling Fallah’s move “dangerous” and potentially damaging to his political ambitions. Gray’s comments underscored the rift within the CDC over Koffa’s fate and highlighted Fallah’s role as a significant yet divisive figure in the ongoing saga.
Gray went further, alleging that influential figures including Vice President Jeremiah Koung, former House Speaker J. Alex Tyler, Senator Prince Moye, and Senator Emmanuel Nuquay were financially backing the push to unseat Koffa. He added that Sirleaf Tyler, brother of Alex Tyler, allegedly contributed US$500,000 to support the effort. According to Gray, Boakai loyalists within key government institutions, including the Ministries of Finance and Transport, as well as state-owned enterprises, are facilitating the funding, with executives allegedly diverting funds from these agencies to support lawmakers in the majority bloc.
“If Boakai isn’t involved, then his own administration is undermining him,” Gray remarked. And given allegations that officials from the Executive are siphoning funds from line ministries to “sponsor chaos in the Legislature,” he urged Boakai to investigate and bring transparency to the matter.
Gray also cited House Rule 48.6, suggesting that any complaint against Koffa would be invalid due to procedural timing restrictions. According to Rule 48.6, complaints must be filed within a year of an alleged violation and would be barred from consideration in the current term, potentially shielding Koffa from his adversaries.
The Executive Branch’s Response
Amid escalating tensions, the Executive Branch released an official statement distancing itself from the House drama. In a letter dated November 8, 2024, from the Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs, the Office of the President expressed its commitment to maintaining the independence of Liberia’s government branches. The letter referenced a recent Supreme Court decision in which Justice Yarmie Quiqui Gbeisay declined Speaker Koffa’s request for a writ of prohibition against the majority bloc. Koffa had filed the writ, claiming that the bloc’s attempts to bypass his authority by holding separate sessions in the Joint Chambers without his permission set a dangerous precedent.
The letter stated, “The President regards the evolving situation with the utmost urgency and is unwavering about upholding the sanctity of the ‘three separate but coordinate branches’ of government.” The letter emphasized that Boakai is seeking legal counsel to fully comprehend the implications of the Supreme Court ruling.
This hands-off approach from the Executive Mansion has not quelled suspicions of the Executive’s involvement in the anti-Koffa movement, with Gray and other CDC members still questioning the source of the funds supporting the majority bloc.
An Open Letter to the Majority Bloc
Adding to the public discourse, Dr. Robtel Neajai Pailey, a Liberian scholar and activist, penned an open letter published in the November 11 edition of the Daily Observer, lambasting the majority bloc for allegedly “hijacking the legislative process.” Addressing the bloc directly, Pailey wrote, “We elected you to represent us well, make good laws (not break them) and provide oversight of the executive and judiciary. Instead, you have hijacked the legislative process and forsaken your own House Rules and Procedures. Nowhere does it say you have authority to hold alternate sessions in the joint chambers, regardless of implicit judicial approval.”
Pailey’s letter reflected growing public frustration with the majority bloc, who, in their bid to remove Koffa, have arguably stretched legislative procedure to the breaking point. Her words underscored the ethical and procedural failings within the House, echoing Gray’s concerns about the legitimacy of the anti-Koffa movement.
The Road Ahead
As the week unfolds, all eyes are on the CDC’s executive council and President Boakai’s next steps. The CDC faces a crucial decision: how to discipline party members who have broken ranks to join forces with Unity Party members against Koffa. The decision could have significant ramifications not only for CDC’s internal cohesion but for Liberia’s political landscape, as CDC lawmakers who helped engineer the Koffa ouster face potential party expulsion.
At the same time, calls for transparency from the Executive Branch will likely intensify as the investigation progresses. If there is truth to Gray’s claims that Executive funds are being funneled to disrupt the legislative branch, President Boakai may need to step in to clarify his administration’s position.
This high-stakes political struggle is no doubt testing the limits of Liberia’s laws and — in the most public manner — serving up ample opportunities for public discourse, debate and could well inform the public on its options toward correction of the prevailing political impasse. Both the actions of the majority bloc and the allegations of misappropriation of funds to “cause chaos” in the Legislature might be investigated… or not.
Source: Daily Observer
