Published: October 7, 2026
MONROVIA — A group of concerned residents of Montserrado County Electoral District 10 is demanding a by-election to fill the district’s vacant seat in the House of Representatives, warning of protests if the prolonged uncertainty surrounding former Rep. Yekeh Kolubah’s removal is not resolved in the coming months.
The residents say they have gone about four months without representation in the House, leaving the district without a sitting lawmaker to advocate for its interests and raising concerns about access to district development funds and other legislative benefits.
By Destiny D. Jabula
Speaking on behalf of the group, Chairman Alfred P. S. Grear argued that the House of Representatives does not have the authority to reinstate Kolubah after his expulsion and insisted that any attempt by the former lawmaker to reclaim the seat should be decided through an election.
“We want to make it clear that the House does not hold any power to reinstate the representative who was expelled,” Grear said. “Reconciling with the President is not in any way mean being reinstated.”
Grear further argued that even if the court rules in Kolubah’s favor in the ongoing legal dispute, the former lawmaker should return to the ballot if he wants to represent District 10 again.
“Even if the court rules in the former representative’s favor, he still has to go through the election process. If he wants to come back, he should come back through that means,” Grear said.
The residents’ demand comes amid an unresolved legal dispute over Kolubah’s expulsion from the House of Representatives. Lawmakers expelled him following controversial public remarks concerning a disputed Liberia-Guinea border area, but the former representative has challenged the action.
The group wants the legal process concluded and the way cleared for an election, arguing that residents should not remain without representation indefinitely.
Trokon George, chairperson of the Inter-Party Youth Council, also criticized Kolubah’s previous representation of the district, describing his tenure as ineffective.
“For the past eight years Yekeh was District 10 representative. He was a complete noise maker. The district was underrepresented,” George said.
George said residents should now be allowed to decide through the ballot who represents them in the House.
“That’s why we, the District 10 people, are asking NEC to open the by-election so we can present a proud son and true representation,” he said.
Other residents echoed concerns about the prolonged vacancy and its potential impact on development in the district.
“It’s been four months since we have not been represented. The House should hurry and send someone to represent our district. We have been denied so many things, district funds. Our district is just like that; it’s vulnerable,” one citizen said.
She said she would have no objection to Kolubah participating in an election if legally permitted, but maintained that residents urgently need representation.
“I don’t have a problem if the former representative returns to the ballot box, but we need somebody to govern us,” she said.
Another citizen raised similar concerns about the district remaining without a representative.
“The district cannot remain open. There are a lot of district development funds that the citizens are not receiving,” she said.
The group is threatening further protests if the matter remains unresolved and a by-election is not conducted.
The citizens are calling for the legal and electoral processes surrounding the vacant seat to be concluded so District 10 voters can determine at the ballot box who should represent them in the House of Representatives.
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