Monrovia – Speaker J. Fonati Koffa is reportedly preparing to declare 10 seats in the House of Representatives vacant, citing absenteeism and constitutional violations. According to sources close to the House leadership, Speaker Koffa has called an emergency meeting with House leadership scheduled for Monday to address the matter under Article 37 of the Liberian Constitution and Rule 21 of the House’s standing rules.
The specific seats affected have not been disclosed, though sources suggest they may belong to members of the Majority Bloc, potentially signaling an intra-house power shift. This declaration could provide the necessary quorum for the House plenary, enabling Speaker Koffa to preside over sessions and conduct official legislative business despite growing tensions among lawmakers.
Should those seats be declared vacant, the Speaker would have quorum to conduct legislative business, The Liberian Investigator gagthered.
Under Article 37 of the Constitution and Rule 21 of the House rules, prolonged absenteeism without authorization can warrant sanctions, including the declaration of a seat as vacant. Rule 21 explicitly states that no House member may be absent for more than two weeks without formal approval from the House, and violators may face penalties as determined by the leadership in consultation with the plenary. This rule grants Speaker Koffa authority to address absenteeism, which he appears poised to exercise fully.
Consultations are reportedly underway across government branches, and the House leadership’s legal team is preparing to file an In Re action before the full bench of the Supreme Court on Friday. This legal move aims to reinforce the Speaker’s authority to declare these seats vacant, ensuring judicial support for the decision.
Legal experts have pointed out that Speaker Koffa retains his constitutional powers to preside over the House until removed through the appropriate channels. They argue that Article 37 empowers the Speaker to penalize absenteeism, a power he can enact with leadership support.
A source from the National Elections Commission (NEC) confirmed ongoing meetings between the NEC and House leadership, though the purpose of these discussions remains undisclosed
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