MONROVIA – A day following the resignation of Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa, former Speaker of the 55th Legislature, the Plenary of the House of Representatives has elected former controversial speaker, Montserrado County District #11 Representative, Richard Nagbe Koon, as the new Speaker of the House of Representatives in the 55th Legislature.
Following the acceptance of former Speaker Koffa’s resignation, it was reported the former controversial Speaker Richard Koon also tendered in his resignation to pave the way for a new election. Since November 2024, Koon, a lawmaker representing Montserrado County’s district #11 in the legislature, has been enjoying all the perks as the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
During plenary today, May 13, two candidates – Montserrado County District #11 Representatives, Richard Nagbe Koon and Nimba County District #7 Representative, Musa Hassan Bility – vied for the vacant speaker seat.
Rep. Koon emerged victorious with a total of 43 votes out of the 69 votes cast, while Rep, Bility acquired 26 votes. Former speaker Koffa told the media that he supported the candidature of Rep. Musa Bility. This decisive win reflects the ongoing political dynamics within the House and the confidence placed in Koon by his peers.
The election of a new Speaker is a crucial step in maintaining the legislative functions of the House of Representatives, especially as the country navigates through various political challenges. Koon’s election is expected to bring about new leadership strategies and policy directions, as the House prepares to tackle pressing issues facing Liberia.
As the new House leadership evolves, all eyes will be on the new Speaker to see how he will address the legislative agenda and foster collaboration among all the Representatives.
Beginning of the Resolution of Legislative Leadership Saga
It can be recalled on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, the Supreme Court of Liberia handed down clear and distinct opinion in the legislative leadership crisis at the House of Representatives. Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyene Yuoh in the High Court’s ruling in the leadership crisis at the House of Representatives highlighted several key points that made the ‘regime speaker’ Richard Koon illegitimate head of the House of Representatives of the 55th Legislature.
The High Court stated: “Any action or sitting of the majority bloc in which the elected speaker is not presiding despite being present and is not absent or incapacitated is unconstitutional. Action of the self-styled majority bloc’ is in total disregard for the rule of law. The opinion of the Attorney General has no legal effect on the Supreme Court ruling, as it is deemed irrelevant.”
The Supreme Court had ruled, invalidating the election of Representative Richard Koon as Speaker of the House of Representatives and declared the legislative actions undertaken by his so-called “majority bloc” unconstitutional, unauthorized, and without legal effect.
The decision, handed down on Wednesday April 23, 2025 by the High Court, came as a definitive response to an amended Bill of Information filed by the now former House Speaker J. Fonati Koffa and his allies. The filing alleged that Koon and members of the “self-styled majority bloc” flagrantly violated the Court’s December 6, 2024, opinion and final judgment on the constitutional requirements for legislative sessions and leadership.
“This court emphatically declares that it is within the power and authority of the Supreme Court of Liberia to say what the law is without fear or favor, irrespective of the parties before the Court,” the opinion read.
Central to the Court’s decision is its reaffirmation of Articles 33 and 49 of the 1986 Constitution, which designate the Speaker—or in their absence, the Deputy Speaker—as the only constitutionally recognized presiding officers of the House. “The Constitution provides that a quorum shall consist of a simple majority of the members of the Honorable House of Representatives,” the Court stated, “but such quorum must be presided over by the presiding officer defined under Article 49 of the Constitution as the Speaker, and only in his absence, the Deputy Speaker.”
The court found that Rep. Koon’s assumption of the Speakership and the proceedings he led were illegal, pointing out that former Speaker Koffa was never absent and was actively presiding over legitimate sessions at the time. “Speaker Koffa not being absent to preside over plenary sessions, the Deputy Speaker or any representative for that matter could not legally preside over any plenary session,” the Court ruled. “Any action or sitting by the majority to the exclusion of the Speaker presiding while he is present and available to preside is unconstitutional and without the appeal of the law, and we so hold.”
Following the Supreme Court’s final opinion in the Legislative leadership crisis, the so-called ‘majority bloc’ outrightly rejected the court’s opinion and vowed to continue their business as usual. Days later, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai acknowledged the High Court’s opinion but said his administration would work with a quorum of the House of Representatives. Ironically, the majority bloc decided to file a petition to the very High Court it had defied, for rehearing of arguments of the Bill of Information. The public reaction to the so-called ‘majority bloc’ and the President’s decision were mixed. Some Liberians took issues with President Boakai that he was undermining the rule of law and the Constitution of Liberia.
As Liberians waited anxiously when the Supreme Court would assign the hearing and subsequent legal re-argument, the Rule of Law Caucus had been negotiating behind the scenes with several state actors and prominent Liberians, a decision was reached between them for former Speaker Koffa to resign for governance to be restored in the Legislature and the State. And on Monday, May 12, 2025 former Speaker Koffa tendered in his resignation as Speaker of the 55th Legislature.
But interestingly, few hours following the resignation of the former embattled House Speaker, Cllr Jonathan Fonati Koffa, the controversial House Speaker, Mr. Richard Nagbe Koon, too, tendered in his resignation from said post. Since November 2024, Koon, a lawmaker representing Montserrado County’s district #11 in the legislature, has been enjoying all the perks as the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Despite the legal rebuke, Koon, an outspoken supporter of President Joseph Boakai’s Unity Party, remained defiant. Even before Tuesday’s formal election, he had publicly declared himself the “regime Speaker,” vowing to align the House’s agenda with the Boakai-led Administration.
“Today, I am the regime Speaker of the Republic of Liberia, and I am 100 percent supporting His Excellency Joseph Nyumah Boakai,” Koon said in February. “No Speaker from the opposition will promote our agenda.”
Critics denounced the statement as dangerously partisan. Cllr. Tiawan Gongloe, political leader of the Liberia People’s Party, condemned the remarks as a violation of democratic norms. “These lawmakers have desecrated the sanctity of their offices,” Gongloe said during a broadcast of Spoon Talk. “They deserve no privileges and no impunity.”
Senator Edwin Melvin Snowe of Bomi County echoed those concerns, accusing the Koon-led bloc of hypocrisy. “It is appalling that those who criticized everything done by their predecessors are now committing even greater wrongs than those they demonized yesterday,” he said.
With Koffa out and Koon now elected through a constitutionally sanctioned process, some observers hope the Legislature can begin to heal. But tensions remain high, and the scars of the crisis are deep.
In his post-resignation remarks, Koffa announced plans to publish a memoir titled “From 1 to 73: The Conspiracy at the Capitol,” a thinly veiled reference to the full membership of the House and what he characterizes as a deliberate effort to undermine his leadership.
He also called for international investigators to probe the arrest and continued detention of some of his staff at Monrovia Central Prison, describing the case as politically motivated.
As Rep. Koon prepares to take full control of the Speakership, he faces not only the challenge of unifying a deeply divided House but also restoring public trust in a Legislature many Liberians now view as an arena for partisan warfare rather than national service.
Public Reactions
Meanwhile, there are mixed reactions from the public, political pundits and analysts following the holding of new election to elect a speaker.
Some argue that the House of Representatives did not follow entirely the ruling of the Supreme Court which called on members of that August Body to assemble in according to the Constitution and give due process to former Speaker Koffa, who they had accused. But others say Koffa’s resignation changed the dynamics so the House had to go ahead to hold election for a new Speaker.
Whatever the future holds, Liberians will remember some members of the House of Representatives in the 55th Legislature of being violators of the Constitution, while others will be remembered for standing firm to defend and protect the rule of law. Koon is now the Speaker of the 55th Legislature!
