MONROVIA – In a surprising turn of events, President-elect Joseph Boakai has reportedly sent a controversial bulk text message to members of the House of Representatives, urging them to vote the Unity Party (UP) for Richard Koon, the candidate for Speaker running for Speaker of the 55th Legislature.
The speakership election for the 55th Legislature is slated for Monday, 15th January 2023, but the message allegedly from the incoming president has caused quite a stir among members of the House, with many questioning the validity and appropriateness of such communication from the future president.
Some lawmakers have expressed concern over the alleged threats of strangulation for those who do not vote for Koon, calling it an attempt to influence the legislative process through fear and intimidation.
The election for Speaker of the 55th Legislature has become a contentious battle between Richard Koon and Cllr. Fonati Koffa, who is from the ruling party, the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC). Koffa currently appears to have the upper hand based on support statements from lawmakers, making Boakai’s attempt to sway the vote in Koon’s favor all the more controversial.
Boakai is also proposing a face-to-face meeting with members of the House, according to our sources, who disclosed that this move is in furtherance of the president-elect’s campaign for Koon. The House of Representatives has yet to respond to the alleged text message, but the incident has sparked a heated debate among lawmakers and citizens alike.
Many are calling for an investigation into the matter and for transparency in the legislative election process to ensure it is free from outside influence. As the nation awaits the outcome of the Speaker election, the controversy surrounding Boakai’s alleged text message continues to spark debates.
VP Boakai could not be reached for comments on the text message issue. In the meantime, a member of the House of Representatives has denied the text message sent to lawmakers today ever came from President-elect Boakai. The lawmaker who preferred not to be named, said he spoke with Joe Boakai, who, he said denied sending such a text message.
