Monrovia – Acting Chairman of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), Janga Kowo, has strongly rebuked Deputy Speaker Thomas Fallah and other CDC lawmakers who have aligned themselves with the faction in the House of Representatives seeking to unseat Speaker J. Fonati Koffa. Kowo condemned the move as a betrayal of party unity and accused the ruling Unity Party (UP) government, led by President Joseph Boakai, of exerting undue influence over CDC members.
“The CDC strongly condemns Deputy Speaker Thomas Fallah and other CDC lawmakers who have disobeyed the CDC National Executive Committee and His Excellency President George Manneh Weah to go against Speaker J. Fonati Koffa,” Kowo stated to The Liberian Investigator. He further alleged that these actions were “clearly influenced by the Joseph Boakai government and intended to destabilize the CDC.”
Deputy Speaker Fallah on Thursday yielded to the call of the ‘majority bloc’ to join them in their parallel sessions or risk being removed as Speaker. On Thursday, the Deputy Speaker presided over the session held by the breakaway group.
Fallah said his decision to join ranks with the “majority bloc” in the House—a coalition that has voiced grievances against Speaker Koffa, accusing him of breaching ethical standards and misappropriating funds—was not a rejection of his loyalty to the CDC or Speaker Koffa. He argued that he was compelled by duty to ensure that the House functions smoothly.
“My decision to join the call for resolving this deadlock is not a repudiation of my support for Speaker Koffa or the CDC. Instead, it is a demonstration of my unwavering commitment to our democracy, which must transcend any one individual or faction,” Fallah explained, adding that he had consulted widely before making this choice. “In my 19 years with the CDC, I have never betrayed my party, and I do not intend to do so now.”
Fallah clarified that he did not initiate the campaign to remove Speaker Koffa but felt obligated to listen to the concerns of his colleagues, citing his responsibility under the Rules and Procedures of the House and the Liberian Constitution. “It is not a choice against my party or the Speaker, whom I continue to respect and support. I cannot ignore my responsibility to act when the legislative body is at a standstill, and the functioning of the national government is at risk,” he asserted.
When contacted by The Liberian Investigator on whether the CDC endorsed Fallah’s decision, Kowo accused the Boakai administration of undermining the democratic process by manipulating the legislative body, warning that these developments reflect a dangerous trend in Liberian politics. “These developments speak to the wider threat to Liberian democracy where an overbearing executive can interfere with the function of the other two branches, thereby undermining checks and balances,” he noted. Kowo went further to assert, “The evidence is clear that the UP government is undemocratic and has gone against every facet of the rule of law.”
Kowo indicated that the CDC is monitoring the situation closely and will consider its next steps in response to what he described as interference by the executive branch.
Meanwhile, Speaker Koffa has resisted calls for his resignation, insisting he will only step down if the faction calling for his removal secures a two-thirds majority vote in the House, which requires 49 members. The dissenting group currently has 43 members, now 44 with the addition of the Deputy Speaker, falling short of the threshold required to formally oust him. In defiance, the breakaway faction has been holding separate sessions in the legislature’s joint chamber, an act Speaker Koffa has condemned as unconstitutional.
The faction pushing for Koffa’s removal has accused him of engaging in dual roles as a legal consultant for both government and private entities while serving as Speaker, along with allegations of misappropriating millions during his tenure as Deputy Speaker. Koffa has categorically denied these charges, dismissing them as baseless and unsubstantiated. He assured that neither he nor his law firm, the International Law Group, has conducted business with government institutions. He also addressed claims of budget overspending, stating that an audit he commissioned would reveal the facts.
In a bid to resolve the dispute, Speaker Koffa has petitioned the Supreme Court to declare the ‘majority bloc’s’ sessions illegal and compel them to participate in regular sessions with the rest of the House members. The Court has responded with a stay order on the faction’s activities and has scheduled a conference for November 4 to address the matter.
Fallah, while advocating for a peaceful resolution, urged his colleagues to prioritize unity and open dialogue to restore cohesion within the House. “This is not a time for division or suspicion but a moment for us to reaffirm our shared commitment to the people of Liberia,” he said, calling for collaboration to uphold the values they are sworn to protect and restore the dignity of the legislature.
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